KPMG annual True Price of Plastic analysis puts the full social and environmental cost of plastic pollution at $3.7 trillion annually — exceeding the $3.2 trillion economic contribution of the global plastics industry.
What the $3.7 trillion includes
Healthcare costs from microplastic exposure ($840B), fisheries and aquaculture losses from ocean plastic ($460B), tourism impacts ($200B), GHG emissions ($780B), soil contamination ($320B), and biodiversity loss ($1.1T).
The plastic credit lens
KPMG calculates that every tonne of plastic properly collected avoids approximately $9,700 in societal costs. At current credit prices of $50-450/tonne, the economic value created far exceeds purchase cost.