Greenpeace has revealed alarming findings about plastic production and waste management by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW). According to the report, five major oil and chemical companies—ExxonMobil, Dow, Shell, TotalEnergies, and ChevronPhillips—have produced over 1,000 times more plastic than they have managed to eliminate since 2019. These findings underscore the escalating severity of the plastic pollution crisis.
A Stark Disparity in Plastic Management
These companies collectively produced 132 million tons of plastic over five years, Greenpeace reports. Meanwhile, the AEPW diverted only 118,500 tons of plastic waste during the same period. This disparity reflects a massive shortfall in cleanup efforts compared to production.
The report focused on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), which are common in food packaging and bottles. Including other plastics, such as polystyrene, would likely widen this gap even further. Although the AEPW initially aimed to divert 15 million tons of waste by 2023, it abandoned this goal, citing it as “too ambitious.” Critics, including Greenpeace, view this as a failure to match promises with action.
Greenpeace Condemns Industry Practices
Greenpeace accuses the AEPW of greenwashing rather than solving the crisis. Will McCallum of Greenpeace UK criticized their approach, likening it to “scooping water with a teaspoon while leaving the tap running.” He emphasized that meaningful progress requires companies to reduce plastic production significantly.
Environmental activist Bill McKibben echoed this sentiment, accusing the industry of misleading the public. He argued that oil and gas companies consistently prioritize profits while resisting genuine measures to tackle the plastic crisis.
AEPW Defends Its Actions
The AEPW claims it focuses on innovation and scalable solutions. However, critics highlight its lobbying against global caps on plastic production during United Nations treaty negotiations. Many environmental groups argue that these caps are essential to address the root cause of the problem.
Governments, including the UK and the United States, support introducing production caps as part of the treaty. Without these measures, experts warn, recycling alone cannot offset the ever-growing volume of waste.
Experts Urge Reduction in Plastic Production
Reducing plastic production is critical to combating pollution, experts agree. Professor Steve Fletcher of the University of Portsmouth stressed the importance of cutting virgin plastic output. Without such measures, he warned, efforts like recycling will fall short.
Plastic production has surged globally, doubling since 2000 to 460 million tons annually by 2019. Yet, only 9% of this plastic gets recycled, according to an OECD report. This imbalance highlights the urgent need for significant changes in production practices.
What Lies Ahead
The global plastic treaty negotiations could mark a turning point. Many environmental organizations and governments advocate for production caps, while the AEPW continues to prioritize recycling and innovation.
The industry’s decision—whether to embrace meaningful reforms or maintain its current focus—will shape the future of the planet’s environment. For now, the stakes remain alarmingly high.
