Plastics play a valuable role in daily life and across industries, but their production and waste have severe environmental consequences. Mismanaged plastic waste persists in marine environments and food webs for centuries and cause harm to marine species that have ingested or been entangled in it.
In addition, greenhouse gas emissions from plastic manufacturing contributes to rising global temperatures causing environmental damage estimated to cost millions of dollars.
The widespread and long-term consequences of plastic pollution necessitate intervention to reduce the environmental and economic damages. Addressing these concerns – and meeting international targets for mitigating climate change, such as those outlined in the Paris Agreement – may include slowing the production of single-use plastics and focusing on re-use and recycling.
“Plastic bottles and garbage on the bank of a river” by Horia Varlan is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Addressing plastic pollution at the source
Previously, interventions on plastic pollution have focused on the demand-side, by implementing taxes or bans on single-use plastics. These often face public resistance and fail to target the primary sources of plastic production.
A recent study by researchers from the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) shifted the focus of intervention to the supply-side, by evaluating the potential environmental and economic outcomes of a voluntary levy on the top 100 plastic producers. This shift in focus could “limit the generation of new plastics at its origin and incentivize manufacturers to invest in recycled plastics and sustainable alternatives,” said Dr. Ibrahim Issifu, research associate at the IOF, and the study’s primary author.
A voluntary levy on plastic producers
Collective action from manufacturers, policymakers, and society is needed to most effectively address plastic pollution. As such, the voluntary levy operates using a framework of cooperative behaviour, aligning the stakeholder’s incentives toward a common objective. A cooperative framework “ensures sustained commitment, as participants are more likely to adhere to agreements when they perceive them as fair and beneficial,” says Dr. Ilyass Dahmouni, co-author and an adjunct faculty member at the IOF. Cooperation from profit-driven companies would be dependent on whether the perceived benefits to them, from environmental improvements and public perception of their environmental responsibility, outweigh the cost of the levy.
“smoke stacks” by bionicteaching is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
The researchers estimated the plastic production emissions contributing to global warming, and used economic models to assess the financial implications of imposing a voluntary levy on the top 100 plastic producers. Then, using game theory, they projected the environmental and economic impacts of manufacturers adopting the levy at varying levels of cooperation, ranging from non-compliance to full participation.
The projected benefits of cooperation
The researchers found that under the scenario with the highest level of cooperation, global plastic production emissions could decrease by 70% by 2050, while recycling rates would rise by 73%. “This scenario not only curbs plastic production; it also reduces CO2 emissions, thereby contributing to meeting the target set by the Paris Agreement”, says Dr. Rashid Sumaila, professor at IOF and UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA), and director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit, and senior co-author.
The levy, which was designed to minimize adverse impacts on the cost of living while supporting plastic recycling initiatives, would also contribute to broader environmental objectives, such as marine conservation.
The findings suggested that while plastic production may continue to grow, it can do so at a more controlled pace to align with environmental targets.
“Fishing Gear + Wildlife Entanglement” by Ingrid Valda Taylar is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Collaborative efforts—driven by policies and shared responsibility—could significantly curb emissions, safeguard marine habitats, and support global climate efforts,” said Issifu. The study demonstrates that meaningful progress is achievable under a voluntary levy, but without strong action, plastic pollution will persist at unsustainable levels.
“This study has reinforced my optimism about humanity’s capacity to address complex environmental challenges through innovative policy tools and cooperative behavior,” added Dahmouni.
“Assessing the ecological and economic transformation pathways of plastic production system” was published in the Journal of Environmental Management.
Tags: adjunct faculty, Climate change, Faculty, FERU, Ibrahim Issifu, Ilyass Dahmouni, IOF Research Associates, Paris Agreement, plastic, pollution, Publications, Rashid Sumaila, recycling, Research