Material Flow Analysis of Plastics in Norway
Golnoush Abbasi
Senior Scientist
Miguel Las Heras Hernández
ScientistThe Plastcycle Project
- Mapping 7 plastic polymers in Norway
- Identifying chemicals of concern (CoC)in plastic polymers.
- Analyze and suggest improvements on policy interventions and circular strategies for plastic waste management.
The comprehensive analysis of Norway’s plastic consumption spanning from 2000 to 2050 reveals that, as of 2020, approximately 620 kt of seven key plastic polymers were introduced to the market, prominently driven by packaging applications. Notably, the accumulated in-use stock reached 3400 kt, with a predominant 60% embedded within the domains of buildings and construction. This foundational data underscores the critical role of plastic in contemporary societal structures.
Despite efforts to collect plastic separately for recycling, only a quarter of it actually gets recycled. The study also predicts that if we keep going the way we are, the amount of plastic introduced, used, and wasted will go up significantly by 2050. This shows we need to rethink how we use and manage plastic.
In summary, this research gives guidance to other countries dealing with the growing problem of too much plastic. Understanding how much plastic is used and what happens to it helps make rules and plans to use less and recycle more. This study highlights the need for countries to work together to manage plastic better for the environment and our resources.
