UN Secretary General Request

1. PLASTICS
The environmental impact of plastics
A. If you had the opportunity what actions would you demand of
the United Nations Secretary General and why?

2. If I had one question to ask
the UN Secretary General, it
would be to take steps
towards regulating the plastic
industry in terms of
production, recycling, and
research.

3. Introduction
 I strongly believe enterprises should and will
auto regulate themselves in terms of
environmental impact in the near future, for
society’s and their own benefit.
 HOWEVER
 Plastics pose a threat in terms of health and
the environment.
 the UN through its global reach needs to
raise awareness of people regarding plastic
related environmental and health issues.

4. FACTS
 Industries are not compelled to reveal what makes
their plastic products
 Plastic absorbs toxic chemicals in the ocean, which
then enter the food chain through fish. This increases
the development of cancers, foetus malformation and
reproduction in humans.
 Plastic pollution costs $13bn every year to marine
ecosystems only
 At least one million birds, and 100000 mammals die
each year due to ocean plastic pollution, 8 million
tons of plastic enters the ocean every year.
 50% of plastics are designed for single disposable
use, only 20-25% for long term infrastructure (pipes,
cables)
The Plastic industry has control over the contents of the
plastic products we use everyday.

5. Share of plastic in GDP
Plastic use and production
is booming, some people
using the term “plastic era”
to design the second half
of the 20th century and
onwards.

6. FACTS
 Overall cost of plastic use in the consumer
goods sector each year is $75bn : air pollution
from plastic incineration, marine pollution,
recycling etc.
 Over 30% of the natural capital costs of plastic
are due to greenhouse gas emissions from raw
material extraction to processing.
 4% of global oil is used for plastic production
 50% of plastics are designed for single
disposable use, only 20-25% for long term
infrastructure (pipes, cables)

7. FACTS
 Consumer goods companies could save up
to $4bn every year through good
management of plastic through recycling.
 Plastics can be recycled to create oil.
 There is an 80-90% decrease in energy
consumption when producing recycled
plastic

8. SUGGESTIONS
 Funding for projects such as “the ocean
cleanup” which aims to clean out oceans from
plastics around the oceans
 The setting of an inspiring ambassador such as
Emma Watson for UN Women in order to raise
awareness
 Suggesting all countries to regulate
components of plastics, and impose health and
safety rules on plastic producing companies
 Encourage recycling and reuse of products
throughout the world, highlighting the financial
advantages of doing so (see slide 5)
If I had a demand to ask Ban Ki Moon, the secretary
General of the UN I would ask and suggest he would
encourage:

9. SUGGESTIONS
 A “plastic footprint” calculation beyond the carbon, water and forestry
footprint.
 The monitoring and reporting plastic use in annual reports as more
sustainable companies can become more successful.
 An increased focus on campaigns should be put in place to allow
consumers and companies to discourage pollution
 Funding of research should be funded to understand the impact of
microplastics in the food chain as research has proven tendencies of
infertiflity, increase in cancers and respiratory difficulties due to our daily
ingestion of plastic.
 Companies should be encouraged to show initiative and join projects
such as “beat the microbead”, allowing consumers to check if a brand
uses microplastics or not
 A roadmap should be established with the stakeholders to define targets
of plastic waste reduction, capture and recycle in order to gain direct
control on the issue. (Similarly to the carbon emissions 2020 and 2050
targets)
If I had demand to ask Ban Ki Moon, the actual secretary
General of the UN I would ask and suggest he would
encourage:

10. Sources
 Global Environmental Facility (2014) Marine Debris
 Ocean Health Index (2014) Global Assessment
 The Plastic Pollution Problem, (2014)
OceanCleanup.org
 Plastic to Oil, (2015), Plastic to Oil Advantages
 Tanaka, K. (2013) Accumulation of plastic-derived
chemicals in tissues of seabirds ingesting marine
plastics. Mar. Pollut. Bull.
 Zorba, S (2014) Plastic Waste cause financial
damage, UNEP Plublication
 Sustainable Development
 Beat the microbead Project