Beijing News (Reporter Zhu Yuehong) On May 16th local time, according to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme, if countries and companies can fully utilize existing technology and undergo in-depth policy and market changes, global plastic pollution is expected to reduce by 80% by 2040.

In the past few decades, the level of plastic production has skyrocketed, especially for disposable plastics, but plastic related management has not kept up with the pace. In 2021, 139 million tons of disposable plastic waste were generated globally. If no action is taken, global plastic production will triple by 2060.

In order to significantly reduce the level of plastic pollution, the report of the United Nations Environment Programme suggests that governments and businesses provide three main strategies that focus on recycling, reuse, and the use of alternative materials.

The report estimates that an 80% reduction in global plastic pollution will bring many benefits, including reducing global warming carbon pollution by 500 million tons annually and creating 700000 new job opportunities (mainly in developing countries).