New Economic Study Reveals Major Contributions of Plastic Industry to Global Economy

Published on

Report by Oxford Economics Highlights Unintended Consequences of Production Caps

Washington DC, 18 April 2024 – Today, Oxford Economics released a new report that explored the potential socio-economic and environment impacts of a cap on virgin plastics production, revealing its negative effects across industry in general and on broader global economies.

The report was commissioned by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), and it notes “the opinions and conclusions in the report have been reached independently by and reflect solely the views of Oxford Economics.”

With the continued need for governments, businesses and civil society to align and drive solutions that eliminate plastic pollution by 2040, the study provides an important resource that describes the scale, structure, and economic contributions of the plastics industry spanning polymer production, use and recycling.

As the negotiations for a UN global agreement on plastic pollution take place in Ottawa next week, this report illuminates the negative effects a cap on plastics production would have, particularly for those least able to afford it.

“Plastic makers are innovating, investing and driving smart policies to help end plastic pollution, and we’ve been constructive stakeholders in bringing solutions and expertise to the negotiations,” said Chris Jahn, ICCA’s Council Secretary. “This economic study fills in critical data gaps to help inform negotiators of the wide-reaching consequences a cap on plastic production would have on society.”

Titled, Mapping the Plastics Value Chain: A Framework to Understand the Socioeconomic Impacts of a Production Cap on Virgin Plastics, the study provides several important insights, including:

  • The plastics value chain is a complex and sophisticated engine of the global economy. It contributes trillions of dollars to global economies and employs millions of workers worldwide. It is defined by capital intensive activities, significant R&D spending, and a highly skilled, technical, transferable workforce.
  • The implementation of a proposed plastics production cap would have unintended global implications going beyond the plastics industry. Cost increases resulting from limited supply and more expensive alternatives would disproportionately affect lower-income people.
  • Recycled plastic production is now growing faster than virgin polymers production. Production of recycled plastics has grown by 19% over the past five years, more than twice as fast as the growth in total plastics produced (8% during 2018- 22).
  • A large fraction of the recycled plastic volumes are produced in the developing world. The Asia Pacific region, for example, was the global leader in recycled plastic production volume in 2022, equivalent to approximately 55% and 20 million tons. This demonstrates the value of plastics recycling in the developing world.
  • All major economies have significant exposure to change in plastics production and consumption. Assessed by economic value and employment, differing levels of exposure were recorded globally across the plastics value chain in both upstream and downstream elements of the value chain.
  • A very low fraction of plastic waste generated is currently traded internationally. Just 2% of plastic waste is traded internationally due to existing national regulations and international agreements. There is an opportunity for global trade to help advance circularity.
  • The use of currently available alternatives may put upward pressure on global carbon emissions. Because of the increased weight, high energy inputs needed for recycling, and higher rates of waste associated with alternatives to plastics (e.g., metals, glass and paper), switching to alternative materials could have negative environmental implications across multiple sectors, from healthcare to tech or clean energy.

“In most cases, economic policies entail trade-offs and carry potential risks for unintended consequences. It is my strong belief that policy decisions should be informed by high-quality economic modelling and analysis, which can be used to gauge the extent to which any intervention or set of interventions would achieve its intended objective and to evaluate the direction and likely scale of wider economic, social, and environmental consequences. This knowledge, in turn, can support more effective decision-making”, said Henry Worthington, Director of Economic Consulting at Oxford Economics.

The study ultimately shows that the introduction of a production cap on virgin plastics would carry major risks—both in terms of economic costs and unintended environmental consequences. Ahead of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) in Ottawa next week, ICCA encourages policymakers to consider holistic, comprehensive approaches as they evaluate the implementation of production caps to avoid unintended consequences for consumers, economies big and small, and the environment. 

The full report and summary can be found on Oxford Economics’ website.

-###- 

 About OXFORD ECONOMICS: 

Oxford Economics is the world’s foremost independent economic advisory firm. Covering over 200 countries, over 150 industrial sectors and 8,000 cities and regions, the provide insights and solutions that enable clients to make intelligent and responsible strategic business decisions faster in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.  

About INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHEMICAL ASSOCIATIONS (ICCA): 

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) is an association of innovators, visionaries, solutions providers and product stewardship pioneers. Through ongoing innovation in chemistry and the constant improvement of safe chemicals management, the global chemical industry makes a significant contribution to a sustainable society: improving human health, protecting the environment, and delivering prosperity worldwide.

For more information please contact: