Nordic plastic report recommends 15 global rules

Nordic Co-operation finds that by universally adopting these rules, annual mismanaged plastic production could be reduced by 90% by 2040.

The report compares a business-as-usual scenario with a 'global rules scenario' to compare and contrast possible states of the plastic system by 2040.

The global rules scenario assumes policy interventions across the plastic lifecycle that have been adopted in all geographies.

The business-as-usual scenario predicts an increase of 86% of annual mismanaged plastic volumes by 2040, while virgin plastic production is predicted to increase by 66%, both against a baseline of 2019.

The Nordic Co-operation scenario forecasts a 90% reduction in that mismanaged plastic with a 30% reduction in annual virgin plastic, both by 2040 against a 2019 baseline.

The Nordic Council of Ministers present their global rules scenario in Towards Ending Plastic Pollution by 2040: 15 Global Policy Interventions for Systems Change, as a starting point for systems change in the global plastics system, and not a comprehensive solution.

They also acknowledge that plastic pollution is a broader problem that has health risks, chemicals of concern and impacts on biodiversity which they have not addressed.

The Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council, the official forums for official Nordic co-operation - includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norwat, Seded, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. The organisation exists to make the region the most sustainabile and integrated in the world.