Despite consuming significantly less plastic per capita, low income countries face costs up to 10 times higher than high-income countries, according to a latest report commissioned by WWF.
Developed by Dalberg, the report underscores the true cost of plastic pollution on the environment, health, and economies, with a striking revelation that low-income countries bear a disproportionately heavy burden.
The report highlights the urgent need for equitable global rules and a reimagining of the current plastic system.
DISPARITIES IN PLASTIC COSTS
The study estimates that the total lifetime cost of a kilogram of plastic is around $150 in low- and middle-income countries, which is eight times the $19 per kilogram incurred by high-income countries. When comparing low-income countries to their wealthier counterparts, this cost differential escalates to a staggering 10 times, with low-income countries shouldering costs of $200 per kilogram.
These inequities in plastic costs have profound implications, particularly for countries like Kenya, which is hosting the third round of negotiations for a global treaty to combat plastic pollution from November 13-19. Kenya had taken proactive steps to address plastic pollution by banning single-use plastic bags six years ago. However, the country still grapples with illegal imports of these bags, revealing the transboundary nature of the problem and the inherent inequities in the plastics value chain.
A CALL FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
The current “take, make, waste” plastic system unfairly impacts vulnerable and disadvantaged countries. These nations bear the brunt of the costs without having significant influence over such production and design, which typically occurs in high-income countries. The report highlights three structural inequities:
Low- and middle-income countries have minimal say in product and system design, even though they are expected to manage these products once they reach their end-of-life.
The rate of plastic production, especially for single-use ones, outpaces the resources available for waste management in low- and middle-income countries.
There is a lack of a fair system for holding countries and companies accountable for their role in pollution.
A PATH FORWARD
The report emphasizes the need for a UN global plastic pollution treaty with binding global rules to create a fairer system. Such rules could regulate high-risk plastic products, polymers, and chemicals, and prioritize a circular, non-toxic plastics economy. The report calls on governments to agree on a treaty that includes:
- Banning, phasing out, or reducing high-risk and avoidable products, polymers, and harmful chemicals.
- Global requirements for product design and systems that support a safe and non-toxic circular economy, emphasizing reuse and improved recycling.
- Effective implementation measures with sufficient financial support and alignment of public and private financial flows, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.
A CALL FOR EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS
The report highlights the urgency of prioritizing equitable solutions to address plastic pollution. It emphasizes that relying on voluntary action is not economically, socially, or environmentally sustainable. Without a just transition to an equitable plastics value chain, communities worldwide will continue to bear the price of inaction.
