ShareSave
Climate and science reporter, BBC News
ShareSave
Plastic production has exploded in the last century – to some it has been a miracle product while to others it is a pollution nightmare.
Scientists have estimated that there are nearly 200 trillion pieces floating in the world’s oceans, and this could triple if no action is taken.
In 2022, countries agreed to develop a legally binding global treaty to cut the waste and the harmful chemicals some plastics contain – but after two years no agreement has been reached.
On Tuesday, the world’s nations meet again at a UN conference in Geneva – could they finally agree how to curb the plastic excesses?
Why is plastic such a valuable product?
Human societies have used plastics that occur naturally in the environment for hundreds of years, in the form of rubber, horn and shellac.
But the 20th Century brought the explosion of synthetic plastics, made from processing fossil fuels.
The material’s versatility, strength and heat-resistant properties has lent itself to thousands of uses, from sewage pipes to life-saving medical equipment, to clothing.
It has become ubiquitous in a short time without understanding its full impact, explains Dr Alice Horton, research scientist at the National Oceanography Centre.
“Proportional to life on earth, plastics have been around for no time at all, there are people alive that weren’t using plastics as children. I think that’s what makes this quite a concerning material,” said Dr Horton.
“It has exploded in such a way that we are using it
