Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made

By identifying and synthesizing dispersed data on production, use, and end-of-life management of polymer resins, synthetic fibers, and additives, this article gives a global analysis of all mass-produced plastics ever manufactured. An estimated 8300 million metric tons (Mt) as of virgin plastics have been produced to date. As of 2015, approximately 6300 Mt of plastic waste have been generated, around 9% of which has been recycled, 12% is incinerated, and 79% is accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. If current production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12,000 Mt of plastic waste will be in landfills or in the natural environment by 2050.