Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy

Steve Fletcher; Antaya Lauren Alexandra March; Keiron Roberts; Yoni Shirian; Llorenc Milà i Canals; Alison Cairns; Peggy  Lefort; Allan  Meso; Andrew David  Raine; Aphrodite Smagadi; Steven Stone; Elisa Tonda; José  de la Fuente; Julia Koskella; Anne Titia  Bove; Eline Boon; Andrea Bass

Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy

Steve Fletcher^*, Antaya Lauren Alexandra March^*, Keiron Roberts^*, Yoni Shirian, Llorenc Milà i Canals, Alison Cairns, Peggy Lefort, Allan Meso, Andrew David Raine, Aphrodite Smagadi, Steven Stone, Elisa Tonda, José de la Fuente, Julia Koskella, Anne Titia Bove, Eline Boon, Andrea Bass

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

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Abstract

In a historic decision at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, all 193 UN Member States decided to end plastic pollution. With negotiations on a binding legal agreement by 2024 now underway, the question is how to realise that goal. While many technical solutions for a circular plastics economy are known, the economic, fiscal and business models to address the associated impacts while also safeguarding livelihoods are less clear. This report examines these issues and proposes a systems change scenario - addressing the causes of plastic pollution, rather than just the symptoms. Such a systems change will enable countries to turn off the tap and end plastic pollution while at the same time transitioning towards safer and more stable jobs for those currently working in the informal sector, and create business and job opportunities. The report analyses the opportunities and impacts of a systems change scenario. The scenario combines reducing the most problematic and unnecessary plastic uses with a market transformation towards circularity in plastics by accelerating three key shifts - Reuse, Recycle, and Reorient and Diversify – and actions to deal with the plastic pollution legacy,

Original language	English
Publisher	United Nations Environment Programme
Number of pages	88
ISBN (Print)	9789280740240
Publication status	Published - 16 May 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Plastic pollution - Turning off the tap
This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit services without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The United Nations Environment Programme would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme.
Final published version, 7.46 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

https://www.unep.org/resources/turning-off-tap-end-plastic-pollution-create-circular-economy

5 Article
1 Commissioned report
1 Other report
1 Paper
More
- 1 Comment/debate

From shops to bins: a case study of consumer attitudes and behaviours towards plastics in a UK coastal city
Northen, S., Nieminen, L., Cunsolo, S., Iorfa, K. S., Roberts, K. & Fletcher, S., 30 Jan 2023, (Early online) In: Sustainability Science.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File

188 Downloads (Pure)
Global Plastics Policy Centre Submission for the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
Fletcher, S., March, A. L. A., Nieminen, L., Northen, S., Hilton, J., Bowyer, C. & Roberts, K., 22 May 2023. 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
Limited knowledge of national plastics policy effectiveness may hinder global progress
March, A. L. A., Karasik, R., Roberts, K. & Evans, T. R., 19 Jul 2023, In: Cambridge Prisms: Plastics. 1, 6 p., e14.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File

59 Downloads (Pure)
New single-use plastic ban takes effect in England – here’s why its impact may be limited
March, A. L. A., Bowyer, C. & Roberts, K., 2 Oct 2023, The Conversation.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Open Access
File
Plastic recycling is failing – here’s how the world must respond
Bowyer, C., Roberts, K. & Northen, S. L., 30 May 2023, The Conversation 4 p.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Open Access
File

4 Finished

UNEP Plastics Treaty
Roberts, K., Fletcher, S. & March, A.
8/07/22 → 30/10/22
Project: Research
Support to develop a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution
March, A., Fletcher, S. & Roberts, K.
1/07/22 → 31/07/24
Project: Research
The Climate Costs of Plastic
Fletcher, S., Bowyer, C. & Nieminen, L. K.
30/05/22 → 30/09/22
Project: Research
Global Plastics Policy Centre
March, A., Fletcher, S. & Salam, S.
1/07/21 → 15/07/22
Project: Research

4 Participation in workshop, seminar, course
3 Participation in conference
2 Invited talk

The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution
Keiron Roberts (Participant), Cressida Bowyer (Participant), Steve Fletcher (Participant), Antaya March (Participant), Samuel Winton (Participant) & Erika Hughes (Participant)
8 Nov 2023 → 19 Nov 2023
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution
Keiron Roberts (Speaker), Steve Fletcher (Presented paper), Antaya March (Speaker), Judy Hilton (Presented paper) & Laura Karoliina Nieminen (Participant)
26 May 2023 → 2 Jun 2023
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
UNEP briefing on solutions to end plastic pollution: new report release
Steve Fletcher (Keynote speaker), Antaya March (Speaker) & Keiron Roberts (Speaker)
17 May 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Stockholm Network Workshop EMF
Keiron Roberts (Participant)
18 Oct 2022 → 19 Oct 2022
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Ellen MacArthur Foundation Summit 22
Antaya March (Participant) & Keiron Roberts (Participant)
5 Jul 2022
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference

Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence 2023
Roberts, Keiron (Recipient), Fletcher, Steve (Recipient), Bowyer, Cressida (Recipient), Salam, Sayyidah (Recipient), Winton, Samuel (Recipient), Northen, Steph (Recipient), Nieminen, Laura Karoliina (Recipient), Couceiro, Fay (Recipient), March, Antaya (Recipient) & Evans, Tegan (Recipient), 28 Nov 2023
Prize: National/international honour

Cite this

Fletcher, S., March, A. L. A., Roberts, K., Shirian, Y., Canals, L. M. I., Cairns, A., Lefort, P., Meso, A., Raine, A. D., Smagadi, A., Stone, S., Tonda, E., de la Fuente, J., Koskella, J., Bove, A. T., Boon, E., & Bass, A. (2023). Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy. United Nations Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/resources/turning-off-tap-end-plastic-pollution-create-circular-economy

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title = "Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy",

abstract = "In a historic decision at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, all 193 UN Member States decided to end plastic pollution. With negotiations on a binding legal agreement by 2024 now underway, the question is how to realise that goal. While many technical solutions for a circular plastics economy are known, the economic, fiscal and business models to address the associated impacts while also safeguarding livelihoods are less clear. This report examines these issues and proposes a systems change scenario - addressing the causes of plastic pollution, rather than just the symptoms. Such a systems change will enable countries to turn off the tap and end plastic pollution while at the same time transitioning towards safer and more stable jobs for those currently working in the informal sector, and create business and job opportunities. The report analyses the opportunities and impacts of a systems change scenario. The scenario combines reducing the most problematic and unnecessary plastic uses with a market transformation towards circularity in plastics by accelerating three key shifts - Reuse, Recycle, and Reorient and Diversify – and actions to deal with the plastic pollution legacy,",

author = "Steve Fletcher and March, {Antaya Lauren Alexandra} and Keiron Roberts and Yoni Shirian and Canals, {Llorenc Mil{\`a} i} and Alison Cairns and Peggy Lefort and Allan Meso and Raine, {Andrew David} and Aphrodite Smagadi and Steven Stone and Elisa Tonda and {de la Fuente}, Jos{\'e} and Julia Koskella and Bove, {Anne Titia} and Eline Boon and Andrea Bass",

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day = "16",

language = "English",

isbn = "9789280740240 ",

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Fletcher, S , March, ALA , Roberts, K, Shirian, Y, Canals, LMI, Cairns, A, Lefort, P, Meso, A, Raine, AD, Smagadi, A, Stone, S, Tonda, E, de la Fuente, J, Koskella, J, Bove, AT, Boon, E & Bass, A 2023, Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy. United Nations Environment Programme. <https://www.unep.org/resources/turning-off-tap-end-plastic-pollution-create-circular-economy>

TY - BOOK

T1 - Turning off the Tap

T2 - How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy

AU - Fletcher, Steve

AU - March, Antaya Lauren Alexandra

AU - Roberts, Keiron

AU - Shirian, Yoni

AU - Canals, Llorenc Milà i

AU - Cairns, Alison

AU - Lefort, Peggy

AU - Meso, Allan

AU - Raine, Andrew David

AU - Smagadi, Aphrodite

AU - Stone, Steven

AU - Tonda, Elisa

AU - de la Fuente, José

AU - Koskella, Julia

AU - Bove, Anne Titia

AU - Boon, Eline

AU - Bass, Andrea

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Y1 - 2023/5/16

N2 - In a historic decision at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, all 193 UN Member States decided to end plastic pollution. With negotiations on a binding legal agreement by 2024 now underway, the question is how to realise that goal. While many technical solutions for a circular plastics economy are known, the economic, fiscal and business models to address the associated impacts while also safeguarding livelihoods are less clear. This report examines these issues and proposes a systems change scenario - addressing the causes of plastic pollution, rather than just the symptoms. Such a systems change will enable countries to turn off the tap and end plastic pollution while at the same time transitioning towards safer and more stable jobs for those currently working in the informal sector, and create business and job opportunities. The report analyses the opportunities and impacts of a systems change scenario. The scenario combines reducing the most problematic and unnecessary plastic uses with a market transformation towards circularity in plastics by accelerating three key shifts - Reuse, Recycle, and Reorient and Diversify – and actions to deal with the plastic pollution legacy,

AB - In a historic decision at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, all 193 UN Member States decided to end plastic pollution. With negotiations on a binding legal agreement by 2024 now underway, the question is how to realise that goal. While many technical solutions for a circular plastics economy are known, the economic, fiscal and business models to address the associated impacts while also safeguarding livelihoods are less clear. This report examines these issues and proposes a systems change scenario - addressing the causes of plastic pollution, rather than just the symptoms. Such a systems change will enable countries to turn off the tap and end plastic pollution while at the same time transitioning towards safer and more stable jobs for those currently working in the informal sector, and create business and job opportunities. The report analyses the opportunities and impacts of a systems change scenario. The scenario combines reducing the most problematic and unnecessary plastic uses with a market transformation towards circularity in plastics by accelerating three key shifts - Reuse, Recycle, and Reorient and Diversify – and actions to deal with the plastic pollution legacy,

M3 - Commissioned report

SN - 9789280740240

BT - Turning off the Tap

PB - United Nations Environment Programme

ER -

Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Research output

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Activities

Prizes

Cite this