According to a new study by Earth Action (EA), commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), banning or gradually phasing out problematic plastic products could result in savings of between $4.7 trillion and $8 trillion from 2025 to 2040.

The study indicates that although both bans and phased withdrawals may involve short-term costs, these are largely offset by long-term benefits.

WWF defines problematic types of plastic as "plastics that are highly likely to enter the environment and potentially cause harmful impacts on the environment and human health." According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), humanity produces about 430 million tons of plastic annually. Of this, 280 million tons become waste. Forty percent of plastic waste ends up in landfills, and 22% is improperly managed, turning into litter. 

According to the study, if the world were to impose bans or gradually phase out problematic plastics, global plastic consumption could decrease by 173–224 million tons between 2025 and 2040. During the same period, the volume of inefficiently managed plastic waste could be reduced by 51–74 million tons. Faster bans or phased withdrawal would lead to even greater reductions.  

In contrast, an immediate global ban on these plastic products would cost $2 trillion but generate savings of $8 trillion compared to the “Business-as-Usual” scenario. A global phased withdrawal would result in $7 trillion in savings. If bans or phased withdrawal are implemented on a staggered timeline for high- and low-income countries, the savings would decrease to $4.7 trillion — the minimum scenario.