175 countries account for 41% of the total mismanaged plastic waste. India, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Mexico, the United States, Saudia Arabia,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran and Kazakhstan are responsible for plastic waste management.
Every year, there is a day when the amount of plastic waste surpasses the capability of waste management systems to manage it effectively. This day is Plastic Overshoot Day. In 2023, the global community reached this critical point on July 28th.
Every country has its own Plastic Overshoot Day. It is the day a country’s waste management capacity fully exhausts. Beyond this day, all waste generated by the country becomes mismanaged, ultimately finding its way into the natural environment. Each country contributes to a portion of the 157 days of plastic overshoot that will occur in 2023.
People living in Iceland are the top generators of plastic waste, with a yearly consumption of 128.9 kg per person. This is 50 times higher than the yearly consumption per person in Bangladesh who consumes 2.59 kg. The global average consumption of plastic per person per year is 20.9 kg. The total worldwide consumption of plastic is 158,943,925 tons per year.
Moldova has the highest per capita amount of mismanaged plastic waste, 135 kg of plastic per person in 2023. This is 144 times higher than the kg of plastic per person in Norway this year. The global average mismanaged plastic waste per person is to be 8.8 kg in 2023.
Globally in 2023, a staggering 43 % of plastic waste will be mismanaged at the end of its life, with the risk of this waste ending up in oceans.
Plastic Overshoot Day
In 2023, the global Plastic Overshoot Day is on July 28th. Each country has its own Plastic Overshoot Day. It is determined by the amount of plastic waste generated and the country’s capacity to manage it.
By 8 January 2023, 40 % of the world’s population live in areas where plastic waste exceeds the capacity to manage it. This number rose to 60 % by 28 July, indicating a pressing need for action to address the plastic waste crisis.
