Plastic pollution could be slashed by 80% by 2040, UN says

Sheep grazing among plastic in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Plastic contaminates the entire planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest oceans. Photograph: Syed Mahabubul Kader/ZUMA Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Global plastic pollution could be slashed by 80% by 2040, according to a report from the UN Environment Programme (Unep). The changes needed are major, but are also practical and affordable, the agency said.

The first step is to eliminate unnecessary plastics, such as excessive packaging, the report said. Then next steps are to increase the reuse of plastics, such as refillable bottles, boosting recycling and replace plastics with greener alternatives.