Global plastic production rises

For more than 50 years, global production of plastic has continued to rise. Some 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a 3.9% increase over 2012's output. With a market driven by consumerism and convenience, along with the comparatively low price of plastic materials, demand for plastic is growing.
Recovery and recycling, however, remain insufficient, and millions of tons of plastics end up in landfills and oceans each year.
Metal, glass, and paper are increasingly replaced by plastic packaging, particularly for foods. By 2009, plastic packaging accounted for 30 percent of packaging sales (News Item Worldwatch Institute, 27 January 2015).
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