UN: Slashing plastic pollution could save $4.5tr worldwide by 2040

Michael Holder
clock • 6 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

Major UN report sets out roadmapfor slashing plastic pollution by 80 per cent by 2040 based on existing technologies and solutions

Drastically reducing plastic pollution worldwide over the next two decades could save countries trillions of dollars, deliver a net increase in jobs, and create a new circular economy for materials that...

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