Minority of plastics made from recycled materials

LESS than a tenth of the 400 million tonnes of plastic produced around the world is manufactured from recycled materials, a study shows.

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Researchers who tracked the global plastics supply chain also warn that just 9% of the plastic produced ends up being recycled - with only half of what is sorted and sent for recycling actually being reprocessed into new products.

Environmental campaigners said the study showed recycling to deal with the problem of plastic pollution harming wildlife, the environment and health was “a myth”, and called for efforts to curb the production of plastic.

The research comes as countries continue to negotiate a global plastics treaty, with 100 nations including the UK backing production cuts, but with talks so far failing to agree a deal.

The study by researchers in China and published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment analysed the global plastic supply chain in 2022, assessing types of plastics and their journey from feedstocks through to products, and how they are dealt with at the end of their life.