Plastic has become ubiquitous in human society, with about 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic produced since 1950. Out of this amount, 6.4 billion metric tons have become waste which either sits in landfills or, even worse, the natural environment. Globally, humans have produced more plastic in the last 15 years than they have in the last 50 years. Due to the rise of oil and gas, packaging has become the largest plastic market as it is often cheaper to produce virgin plastics as a petroleum product rather than recycle plastic.

Plastic and the Environment
Plastic is largely tied to the oil industry as it is both cheap and easy to convert oil into plastics, creating single-use plastics or disposable plastics. Petroleum-based plastics are not biodegradable and often get thrown into landfills. It is estimated that plastic water bottles may take up to 450 years to degrade, however, plastics do not biodegrade into natural substances but rather will continuously breakdown into smaller and smaller particles. These particles, microplastics, have been found in the water and food supply as well as in animals and humans.

In 2025, the per capita plastic waste volume in Hong Kong was estimated to amount to around *** kilograms. Singapore had the second-highest per capita plastic waste volume in the Asia-Pacific region that year, an estimated ** kilograms. Waste production and waste trade Plastic waste is a global issue, with plastic waste generation projected to triple by 2060. Currently, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for over half of the global production of plastic materials. In addition to locally generated plastic waste in the region, many countries in South and Southeast Asia are major destinations for plastic waste exports from Europe and the United States. Malaysia and Vietnam in particular import the highest volume of plastic waste among Asia-Pacific countries. How to deal with waste? Next to the sheer volume of plastics and plastic waste in the region, inadequate collection and processing infrastructures of waste are the main drivers of plastic pollution in many APAC countries. For example, while India's official per-capita waste generation is below the global average, this number is estimated to be significantly higher. The discrepancy stems from a lack of waste collection and a booming informal sector, leading to almost half of the generated plastic waste in India being mismanaged in its treatment. Countries like Japan and South Korea are also still generating large amounts of single plastics and are seeking to tackle the issue of managing the waste volume. Efforts of the countries’ respective governments have led to increasing recycling rates over the last couple of years, with both countries currently positioned at the lower end of the Mismanaged Waste Index for plastic in the Asia-Pacific region.

It is estimated that some ******* metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste, i.e burnt or dumped, is created by Coca-Cola every year across these six developing nations. The company's biggest plastic pollution footprint is in Mexico, where approximately ****** metric tons is produced per year. This is enough plastic waste to cover more than 12 football pitches a day. ********* is by far the most popular beverage brand in Mexico.

Approximately *** million metric tons of plastic packaging waste were generated in the United Kingdom in 2023, a slight increase from the previous year. Snack bags, packets, and wrappers as well as food and vegetables packaging are some of the most common type of plastic packaging waste thrown out by UK households. How much plastic packaging waste is recycled? As plastic packaging waste generation in the UK has grown in the past decade, so has the recycling rate of plastic packaging in the country. In 2023, it stood at **** percent, up from less than ** percent a decade earlier. An average of ** kilograms of plastics packaging were collected for recycling per UK househod in 2023, with plastic bottles accounting for the *************. The battle against single-use plastics in the UK ***** out of 10 British adults supported banning single-use plastics as soon as possible, according to a 2024 survey. In 2015, the UK government introduced a fee for single-use plastic bags in large shops in England, in an effort to reduce plastic pollution. Since then, several additional measures have been put in place. The latest includes the ban or restriction of several types of single-use plastic products in England, such as plates, bowls, trays, or cutlery.

It is estimated that some ****** metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste, i.e burnt or dumped, is created by Nestlé every year across these six developing nations. This is enough plastic waste to cover more than ** football pitches a day. The company's biggest plastic pollution footprint is in the Philippines, where approximately ****** metric tons is produced per year. This was followed by Brazil, which is Nestlé's ***** leading market based on sales.

The worldwide production of plastics reached 413.8 million metric tons in 2023. The versatility of this group of materials accounts for the continued growth in production year after year. In tandem with that growth, the market value of plastics also continues to grow. What plastics are and how they are made Plastics are used in a wide variety of products and have displaced other materials – such as wood, metal, and glass – that were previously used for the applications that plastics now dominate. One of the main applications for plastics use is plastic packaging. The production of plastic requires four basic steps: the acquirement of raw material, synthesizing a basic polymer, compounding the polymer into a usable fraction, and lastly, molding or shaping the plastic. Leading plastic producers Asia was the largest plastics producer in the world in 2023. That year, the country accounted for 33 percent of global production. Over recent years, China produced an average of approximately nine million metric tons of plastic products each month. The rest of Asia ranks second worldwide in terms of plastic production, with a share of 19 percent in 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (PCU325211325211) from Jun 1976 to May 2025 about resin, plastics, materials, manufacturing, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Explore the top import markets for plastic tableware and kitchenware around the world. The article provides key statistics and insights into the import values of countries such as the United States, Germany, Canada, France, and more.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Commodity: Rubber and Plastic Products: Plastics Water Pipe (WPU072106033) from Dec 2011 to May 2025 about plumbing, water, rubber, plastics, commodities, PPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Explore the top import markets for plastic furniture in the world, including key statistics and trends. Discover which countries lead the way in the global trade of plastic furniture.

In 2018, packaging accounted for ** percent of global plastic waste generation. This was considerably higher than any other sector, with textiles making up the second highest share with approximately ** percent. Although very useful, plastic products, such as packaging, pose a number of environmental threats. Due to poor infrastructure and a lack of recycling options, products often end up in landfill sites, or oceans, causing significant environmental pollution.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Plastics Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing: Plastics Water Pipe (PCU32612232612213) from Jun 1987 to May 2025 about water, plastics, manufacturing, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Subscribers can find out export and import data of 23 countries by HS code or product’s name. This demo is helpful for market analysis.

Explore the top import markets for plastic boxes worldwide, including the United States, Mexico, Germany, and more. Get key statistics and market insights from IndexBox.

In 2023, the global population increased by **** percent, while plastic production increased **** percent. Production reached a high within the period in 2016, amounting to a growth rate of **** percent.

Global trade data of Plastic waste bags under 39173129, 39173129 global trade data, trade data of Plastic waste bags from 80+ Countries.

Global trade data of Plastic bucket under 39233090, 39233090 global trade data, trade data of Plastic bucket from 80+ Countries.

Subscribers can find out export and import data of 23 countries by HS code or product’s name. This demo is helpful for market analysis.

Subscribers can find out export and import data of 23 countries by HS code or product’s name. This demo is helpful for market analysis.