CopyrightUnited Nations Environment Programme, 2018 Reproduction This publication may be reproduced in whole or inpart and in any form for educational or non-proftpurposes without special permission from thecopyright holder, provided acknowledgement of thesource is made. The United Nations EnvironmentProgramme would appreciate receiving a copyof any publication that uses this publication as asource. No use of this publication may be madefor resale or for any other commercial purposewhatsoever without prior permission in writingfrom the United Nations Environment Programme. Disclaimer The designations employed and the presentationof the material in this publication do not implythe expression of any opinion whatsoever onthe part of the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme concerning the legal status of anycountry, territory, city or area or of its authorities,or concerning delimitation of its frontiers orboundaries. Moreover, the views expressed donot necessarily represent the decision or thestated policy of the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme, nor does citing of trade names orcommercial processes constitute endorsement. Mention of a commercial company or product inthis publication does not imply endorsement bythe United Nations Environment Programme. ISBN: 978-92-807-3705-9 DTI/2179/JP Suggested citation: UNEP (2018). SINGLE-USE PLASTICS:A Roadmap for Sustainability CreditsPhotos, and illustrations as specifed. The International Environmental TechnologyCentre works with developing countries toimplement sustainable solutions to environmentalchallenges, with focus on holistic wastemanagement.UNEP promotesenvironmentally soundpractices globally and in its ownactivities. This publication will beavailable as an electronic document.Our distribution policy aims to reduceUNEP’s carbon footprint.Cover photo:londonista_londonist/Flicker Foreword Plastic is a miracle material. Thanks to plastics, countless lives havebeen saved in the health sector, the growth of clean energy from windturbines and solar panels has been greatly facilitated, and safe foodstorage has been revolutionized. But what makes plastic so convenient in our day-to-day lives – it’scheap – also makes it ubiquitous, resulting in one of our planet’sgreatest environmental challenges. Our oceans have been used as adumping ground, choking marine life and transforming some marineareas into a plastic soup. In cities around the world, plastic waste clogsdrains, causing foods and breeding disease. Consumed by livestock,it also fnds its way into the food chain. Plastic packaging accounts for nearly half of all plastic waste globally,and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its frstuse. Much plastic may be single-use, but that does not mean it iseasily disposable. When discarded in landflls or in the environment,plastic can take up to a thousand years to decompose. The good news is that a growing number of governments are takingaction and demonstrating that all nations, whether rich or poor, canbecome global environmental leaders. Rwanda, a pioneer in banningsingle-use plastic bags, is now one of the cleanest nations on earth.Kenya has followed suit, helping clear its iconic national parks andsave its cows from an unhealthy diet. Learning from the experience of countries that have introduced bansand regulations on single-use plastics, this assessment analyses whathas worked well, what hasn’t, and why. The report is therefore a toolfor policymakers who intend to introduce measures to regulate theproduction and use of disposable plastics. The assessment shows that action can be painless and proftable –with huge gains for people and the planet that help avert the costlydownstream costs of pollution. In addition, action will drive the kindof innovation that will underpin the future global economy we need. Plastic isn’t the problem. It’s what we do with it. And that means theonus is on us to be far smarter in how we use this miracle material. Erik Solheim Head of UN Environment i SINGLE-USE PLASTICS: A Roadmap for Sustainability Acknowledgements Lead author and project management Claudia Giacovelli (Associate Programme Offcer, UNEnvironment-IETC) Research and drafting support Anna Zamparo (UN Environment-IETC Intern), AndreaWehrli (Mercator Fellow at IETC) Supervisor Keith Alverson (Director, UN Environment-IETC) Data and case studies contributors Joi Danielson (Vital Ocean); Liu Jinghao (EnvironmentalSanitation Engineering Technology Research Centerof MOHURD, China); Yoichi Kodera (Japan NationalInstitute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology);Jordi Pon (UN Environment); Marc Nyhan (Irelandcitizen); Thibault Mutabazi (Rwanda citizen); MichaelRaymond (Aruba Waste Management Services, Serlimar);Spurgeon Miller Molina (Mayor of Guanaja, Honduras). Technical Review Committee Bettina Lorz (European Commission); Dominic Hogg(Eumonia Research & Consulting); Joi Danielson (VitalOcean); Keith Alverson (UN Environment); Linda Godfrey(Council for Scientifc and Industrial Research, SouthAfrica); Yoichi Kodera (Japan National Institute ofAdvanced Industrial Science & Technology). This assessment has been realized with the kindfnancial contribution of the Government of Norway. ii 。。。。。。