World Wildlife Fund (WWF) commissioned Earth Action (EA) to assess the global costs and benefits of banning and phasing out problematic plastic products to support WWF’s ongoing plastic advocacy efforts. The analysis was built upon the Plasteax database, a comprehensive resource covering trade, consumption, and production data of plastic materials.  

This study models six global policy scenarios, comparing an unregulated business-as-usual (BAU) trajectory with a range of bans and phase-outs covering EPS food packaging, PS/PVC/EPS packaging, and single-use plastics like cutlery, straws, and stirrers. 

Key findings include: 

• Business-as-usual (BAU) would cost over $10 trillion by 2040 in combined social, public, and private costs. 

• Global bans could reduce plastic consumption by up to 224 million tons and mismanaged waste by 74 million tons. 

• All regulatory scenarios, including those with extended timelines for low- and middle-income countries, result in net savings – up to $8 trillion compared to BAU. These savings are significant, amounting to over double India’s GDP and almost hafl of China’s.  
• Government and private sector transition costs are modest in comparison to the long-term benefits, especially from reduced waste management burdens. 
  
  

For more information, visit www.e-a.earth or contact contact@e-a.earth.