A Tool for Evaluating Environmental Sustainability of Plastic Waste Reduction Innovations

Abstract

Plastic materials have become pervasive in 21st century economies, yet 60% of all plastics ever produced globally have been discarded either in landfills or elsewhere in the environment. This represents not only significant economic and material resource losses, but accumulation of plastics in natural environments can also impact wildlife and ecosystem wellbeing. Efforts to address plastic waste concerns are vast and diverse, involving every stage of the plastic supply chain, including development of alternative materials; innovative design and re-design of products and packaging systems; and improvements in recycling processes and markets. Such advancements will require capital investment, and as such, strategic investors can influence the rate and direction of plastic waste reduction efforts. Experience from industrial ecology and related fields demonstrates that reducing plastic use or plastic waste does not necessarily result in reduction in environmental sustainability indicators such as energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water use. Additional guidance is needed to assure that promising plastic waste reduction innovations also meet broader sustainable development goals. This report introduces the Plastic waste Reduction Innovation Sustainability Evaluation Tool (PRISET). The aim is to provide a guide for experts and non-experts to assess the sustainability performance of emerging products, technologies and services that can reduce plastic waste. PRISET builds upon existing frameworks, tools, knowledge bases and experiences of industrial ecology, life cycle assessment, circular economy and ESG reporting.