Plastic is the miracle material of the modern world. Production has surged more than 1,000% over the past 50 years, thanks to its near-infinite flexibility as a material, its cost effectiveness and scalability. However, the ubiquity of plastic and its carbon-intensive feedstocks are a major barrier standing in the way of a net-zero world.

Just as the human body can't sustain itself on a diet of junk food, the current consumption model was bound to cause problems. Low-cost, disposable materials that are near impervious to breakdown in nature were always going to fur up the planet’s arteries in the form of waste, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollution and water consumption.

In this episode of Horizons, Dr Liz Dennett is joined by Dr Lars Borger from Neste, and Guy Bailey from Wood Mackenzie to put the plastic industry under the microscope. How can we create a sustainable plastic value chain? What are the issues with biodegradability? How do new materials hinder recycling efforts? These questions and more are explored in episode 3 of Horizons, from Wood Mackenzie.

Find out more about Neste here: https://www.neste.com/sustainability

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