Plastic is everywhere. In a report published on Tuesday April 11, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese) denounces “global pollution” and describes the situation as a “ticking time bomb”. According to the conclusions of the text, 81% of products made of plastic end up in waste in less than a year. This report was co-written with the president of the Fondation de la mer, Sabine Roux de Bézieux, on behalf of the Cese.
This plastic contaminates soil, water, air and even blood. “Plastic pollution is a scourge because we find it in the soil and in the water, but in the form of particles in the air we breathe, in our blood and even in breast milk”, underlines Nathalie Van Den Broeck. , vice-president of the Surfrider Foundation association, quoted by Le Parisien. Before adding: “A 2019 WWF report estimates that each individual would swallow 2,000 plastic particles per week, the equivalent of 5 g, i.e. the weight of a bank card”.
Towards a ban
Inspired by the Nutri-Score model, the authors of this study raise the possibility of setting up a plastic footprint to help consumers “know how much plastic the product they buy contains, whether it is biosourced and its degree of recyclability at the end of its life”, explains Nathalie Van Den Broeck. By 2060, plastic consumption might double. Consequently, the Cese calls for plastic ban single-use globally by 2040.