It has been estimated that about 100-150 million tonnes of plastics are produced for single use products and about 8 million tonnes of plastics are dumped into the oceans every year (Plastics Oceans 2019). There is a need to consider alternative solutions to single-use plastic products, as noted during the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA4) in March 2019. Resolution 9: “Addressing Single-use plastic products pollution” (UNEP/EA.4/R.9), “encourages member states to take actions, as appropriate, to promote the identification and development of environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastic products, taking into account the full life cycle implications of those alternatives”.

In response to this, the Life Cycle Initiative has developed a series of meta-analyses of LCA studies on single-use plastic products and their alternatives. Each meta-analysis highlights the key advantages and disadvantages of alternatives to the single-use plastic products and summarises key messages for policymakers.

Click on the publication images below to access more information and download the reports. The SUPP consolidated report combines the findings of the LCA meta-analysis of Bags, Bottles, Take-away Packaging, Cups and Tableware.

UN Environment Programme was requested by UNEP/ EA.4/R.9 to make available existing information on the full life cycle environmental impacts of plastic products compared to products of alternative materials. In answer to this, the Life Cycle Initiative is working on a series of meta-analyses of LCA studies on single-use plastic products and their alternatives. Each meta-analysis highlights the key advantages and disadvantages of alternatives to the single-use plastic products, and summarises key messages for policy-makers. Several reports have already been published including on bags, bottles, take-away food packaging, beverage cups,  cutlery. Others such as plates, face masks, and nappies are in preparation.

The studies will progressively be made available in this webpage.

A high-level summary report for policy makers integrating the findings in studies was published in February as an information document to the Fifth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA5).

All Single-use plastic product (SUPP) publications

Consult the introduction webinars and slide presentations from 2020

Single-use plastic products (SUPP) pollution is a serious issue that needs urgent and sustained attention at all levels of society. We need to change current consumption patterns and waste management practices to ensure that by 2050 we are not faced with over 12 billion metric tonnes of plastic litter in landfills and the environment. The United Nations Environment Assembly at its Fourth session encouraged and invited more action by all actors, and especially Member States, to improve waste management, but importantly to work more upstream in designing environmentally preferable alternatives while considering all impacts across the full life cycle of such products.

This webinar series responds to that request by sharing information on lifecycle environmental impacts of plastic products in comparison with alternative materials and by sharing case studies of actions by Member States.

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