According to a new report from the UN Environment Agency, the ban on plastics and taxation is an effective strategy for dealing with plastic waste. The report also highlights the advantages of polymer materials and illustrates the need to work with the industry.
The report was published on World Environment Day on June 5th, and the report for the first time comprehensively discussed the treatment of disposable plastic packaging waste.
According to the UN Environment Agency, 'the correct planning and implementation of the 'government prohibition order and taxation' strategy is one of the most effective strategies to limit the excessive use of disposable plastic products.'
The report raised concerns about plastic pollution within a week of its release. The issue was mentioned at the G7 Summit of Industrial Democracy Leaders held in Canada from June 8th to 9th. Some observers said they might release plastics. Charter.
In addition, the theme of this year's World Environment Day is the harm of plastics to the environment. Some politicians, celebrities and the public have announced on Twitter that they will no longer use certain disposable plastic products. Others do the same.
While advocating this activity, UNEP also pointed out the advantages of plastics. UNEP Director Erik Solheim called plastics a 'magical material' that would serve as a cure for medical products. It makes food safer in terms of food storage.
However, he also said that in the global plastic waste, packaging accounts for half. Plastic packaging will pollute the ocean, endanger marine life, and enter the people's food chain after being eaten by livestock.
'Fortunately, more and more governments are taking action and calling on all countries, rich and poor, to become global environmental leaders,' he said. 'Rwanda is a pioneer forbidding the use of disposable plastic bags. It is also one of the cleanest countries in the world. Kenya is chasing after it, helping to clean up the national park and save the cattle.
Solheim released the report in New Delhi on this year's World Environment Day with the host country's Indian Prime Minister Moody.
According to Solheim, the report aims to provide policy makers with a way to assess whether the measure is effective, as they 'introduced some measures to manage the production and use of disposable plastics'.
'Evaluation results show that the measure is economically viable --- has great benefits for both humans and the planet, and helps to avoid costly downstream pollution,' said Solheim. 'Plastic is not a problem, the problem is how do we deal with it? It. '
The report said that the government must improve the regulations on plastic waste management, which is often mentioned by people in the plastics industry.
However, the UN also said that the government should introduce fiscal incentives for consumers, retailers and manufacturers to change the habit of using disposable packaging.
Although the report advocates the use of injunctions and taxation as an effective strategy, the United Nations also acknowledges that in some cases there is no evidence to draw firm conclusions.
The report said: 'It is too early to draw the exact conclusion that the prohibition order and taxation have an impact on the environment.'
According to the report, more than 60 countries have so far adopted plastic bans and taxation measures for disposable plastics, most of which are for plastic bags. However, the report also stated that among the countries that took measures, About 50% of the countries said that it is too early to judge whether they have an impact on the environment.
The United Nations says that in about 30% of countries (60% of countries with data), the ban on plastics has led to a sharp drop in the use of plastic bags.
In the remaining 20% of countries, there is little or no change. The main problem is the lack of law enforcement or the lack of cheap alternatives.
The report said public-private partnerships and voluntary agreements could be an effective alternative to injunctions.
The report also urges governments to work with stakeholders, including manufacturers, on the most problematic disposable plastic use issues. However, the report adds that 'requires evidence-based research to defeat the opposition in the plastics industry. View. '