Campaign group Earth Action says 100% of plastic on the market from today will be mismanaged and result in polluting the environment.
With global production of short-life plastic expected to reach 159 million tonnes in 2023, the international capacity for managing plastics without leakage will no longer meet demand for the rest of the year.
It said global plastic production has grown 20 times faster than our recycling capacity in the past 10 years.
Last week Julien Boucher, chief executive of Earth Action, said: “Today should be a pivotal moment in the global plastic waste crisis. We all have a crucial role to play in this crisis. Now what is required is extensive and ambitious interventions from global governments and corporations, that can lead the change towards sustainable production practices.
“Without this, the Plastic Overshoot Day date will only be brought forward every year. If we can measure and report our carbon footprints, why can’t we do the same for plastic?”
