Upcoming plastic pollution rules will affect everyone

IT BEGAN with the shock of seeing vivid images of turtles and seabirds dying after ingesting marine plastic. Over the years, public concerns about plastic pollution spurred grassroots action and activism. Communities volunteered for beach clean-ups and consumers welcomed alternatives to disposable plastic straws, cups and cutlery.

Some might think that the issue is now dealt with, with the avoidance of plastic waste becoming part of the new business normal. But even if public outcry has grown less loud, more lies ahead.

Upcoming global rules will affect not just makers of plastic products, but all who use them. These include fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and products that use chemicals of specific concern or microplastics – the latter being common in certain health and beauty products.