A new global study recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances found that, of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that has ever been produced, 76% has already become plastic waste. Only 9% has been recycled – a low annual U.S. recovery rate that hasn’t improved since 2012. Much of what isn’t recovered for recycling eventually ends up in the world’s oceans, where it will remain for centuries.
The use of plastics in packaging has been a major driver of overall plastic production. This includes everything from shrink-wrap to the returnable plastic containers (RPCs) used in some shipping industries. Like any container used to transport goods, RPCs have a limited lifespan.