Close to 9 in 10 in favour of global rules banning plastics

Key findings:

• 90%, on average across 32 countries, agree to have global rules banning chemicals used in plastic that are hazardous to human health and the environment.
• 87% agree it’s essential/important to reduce the amount of plastic produced globally.
• The same proportion (87%) say types of plastic that can’t be easily recycled in all of the countries where they are used should be banned.
• More than eight in 10 (85%) agree it’s key to have global rules banning unnecessary single-use plastic products such as shopping bags, cutlery, cups and plates.
• Almost three in four (73%) agree with establishing clear consequences for governments that break the rules of the United Nations final global treaty to end plastic pollution, which is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2024; The same proportion (73%) agree rules to make plastic producers accountable for reducing waste and plastic pollution from their products.
• 72% agree with ensuring all participating countries have access to funding, technology and other resources to comply with the new global rules, with those in Africa (80%) the most supportive.

Saying goodbye to plastic

The world is awash in plastic.

And our new Global Advisor polling, in partnership with the Plastic Free Foundation and WWF, finds many are ready for a sea change.

Majorities in all 32 countries agree with a range of bans, including banning chemicals used in plastic that are hazardous to human health and the environment with support strongest in Indonesia (98%) and lowest in Japan (73%). People in Japan are also the least likely (71%) to say it’s essential/important to reduce the amount of plastic produced globally while those in Indonesia (97%) are the most likely to agree. The Japanese (67%) once again are at the bottom when it comes to banning types of plastic that can’t be easily recycled in all of the countries where they are used while those in Indonesia (96%) are most supportive. 

Despite single-use plastics being a part of many peoples daily lives for many years most look to be open to adopting new ways of doing things with the vast majority (85% on average across 32 countries) saying it’s essential/important to ban unnecessary single-use plastic products, such as shopping bags, cutlery, cups and plates.

Preparing to say hello to a new global treaty

The United Nations is one step closer to finalizing a global treaty to end plastic pollution that was first announced in March 2022. The finer details are still being hammered out, but the UN expects to deliver a legally binding agreement by the end of this year. 

While there’s pretty strong consensus surrounding banning plastics and plastic byproducts, there’s slightly less, though still solid, support for rules around penalties for governments and manufacturers role in reducing plastic production and pollution. 

Almost three in four (73%) at a global level support establishing clear consequences for governments that break the rules of the United Nations final treaty to end plastic pollution. The same proportion (73%) support rules to make plastic producers accountable for reducing waste and plastic pollution from their products.

Proposals to ban plastics and hold governments and manufacturers more accountable might sound nice in theory and people, particularly those in lower-income countries, are the most focused on how to make drastically cutting plastic pollution a global reality. 

Close to three-quarters (72% on average across 32 countries) agree with ensuring all participating countries in the UN treaty have access to funding, technology and other resources to comply with the rules — but there’s quite the range depending on where one lives, going from 80% in Africa to just 61% in North America.

About the study

This 32-country Global Advisor survey was conducted between August 25th and September 8th in 29 countries and September 22nd and October 6th in 3 countries in 2023. Fieldwork was conducted via the Ipsos Online Panel system and, in India, via IndiaBus; among 24,727 adults aged 18-74 in Canada, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Morrocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkey, Uganda and the United States, 20-74 in Thailand, 21-74 in Indonesia and Singapore, and 16-74 all other countries