In December 2018, Great Britain's Royal Statistical Society named the fact that only about nine percent of all plastic ever made has likely been recycled its statistic of the year. Read on for more facts on the global plastic pollution crisis. This article was created in partnership with the National Geographic Society. National Geographic is committed to reducing plastics pollution. Learn more about our non-profit activities at natgeo.org/plastics. This article was first published on May 16, 2018 and updated on December 20.
Some 18 billion pounds
of plastic waste flows into the oceans every year
from coastal regions.
That’s the equivalent of
five grocery bags of
plastic trash sitting on every foot of coastline
around the world.
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: Jenna R. Jambeck,
University of Georgia
Some 18 billion pounds of plastic
waste flows into the oceans
every year from coastal regions.
That’s the equivalent of
five grocery bags of plastic trash
sitting on every foot of coastline
around the world.
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: Jenna R. Jambeck, University of Georgia
40 percent of plastic produced is packaging, used just once and then discarded.
Global plastic production by industry
in millions of tons
72
Building and
construction
161
Packaging
52
Other
65
Textiles
46
Consumer
products
3
Industrial
machinery
19
Electrical
30
Transportation
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: ROLAND GEYER,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
40 percent of plastic produced is packaging,
used just once and then discarded.
Global plastic
production
by industry
in millions of tons
72
Building and
construction
161
Packaging
52
Other
65
Textiles
46
Consumer
products
3
Industrial
machinery
19
Electrical
30
Transportation
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: ROLAND GEYER,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
Shoppers in the United States use
almost one per resident per day.
Shoppers in Denmark use an average of four plastic bags a year.
Average annual plastic-bag usage per resident
United States ~365
Denmark 4
NGM STAFF. SOURCES: TRAVIS WAGNER, University
of Southern Maine; BIO INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
Average annual plastic-
bag usage per resident
United
States
~365
Shoppers in the United States use almost one per resident per day.
Shoppers in Denmark use an average of four plastic bags a year.
Denmark
4
NGM STAFF. SOURCES: TRAVIS WAGNER, University of Southern Maine;
BIO INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
448
Nearly half of
all plastic ever manufactured
has been made
since 2000.
250
44%
of all
plastic ever
manufactured
Global plastic
production
in millions of tons
2.3
1950
2000
2015
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: ROLAND GEYER,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
448
Nearly half of all plastic
ever manufactured
has been made
since 2000.
250
44%
of all
plastic ever
manufactured
Global plastic production
in millions of tons
2.3
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: ROLAND GEYER,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
Half the world’s plastics
are made in Asia.
The lion’s share of that—
29 percent—is made in China, home
to 18 percent of the world’s population.
China
29%
Rest
of Asia
21%
Distribution
of global
plastic
production
Other 2%
Latin America
4%
Middle
East/
Africa
7%
Europe
19%
NAFTA
countries
18%
NGM STAFF. SOURCES: PLASTICSEUROPE;
POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU
China
29%
Rest of Asia
21%
Half the world’s plastics are made in Asia.
The lion’s share of that—
29 percent—is made in China, home to 18 percent of the world’s population.
Other 2%
Latin America
4%
Distribution
of global
plastic production
Middle East/
Africa
7%
Europe
19%
NAFTA
countries
18%
NGM STAFF.
SOURCES: PLASTICSEUROPE;
POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU
Less
than a fifth
of all plastic is
recycled globally.
Plastic recycling rates are highest
in Europe at 30 percent. China’s rate is 25 percent. The United States recycles just 9 percent of its plastic trash.
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: ROLAND GEYER,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
Less
than a fifth
of all plastic is recycled globally.
Plastic recycling rates are highest in Europe at 30 percent.
China’s rate is 25 percent.
The United States recycles just 9 percent of its plastic trash.
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: ROLAND GEYER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
Nearly a million plastic beverage bottles
are sold every minute
around the world. In 2015,
Americans purchased about 346 bottles per person—
111 billion plastic
beverage bottles in all.
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: EUROMONITOR INTERNATIONAL;
CONTAINER RECYLCING INSTITUTE
Nearly a million plastic beverage bottles
are sold every minute around the world. In 2015,
Americans purchased about 346 bottles
per person—
111 billion plastic
beverage bottles in all.
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: EUROMONITOR INTERNATIONAL; CONTAINER RECYLCING INSTITUTE
About 8 percent of the
world’s oil production is
used to make plastic
and power the
manufacturing of it.
That figure is projected to
rise to 20 percent by 2050.
2050: 20%
2012: 8%
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: World Economic forum
About 8 percent of the world’s oil production is used to make plastic
and power the manufacturing of it.
That figure is projected to rise to 20 percent by 2050.
2050: 20%
2012: 8%
NGM STAFF. SOURCE: World Economic forum