Overwhelming Support for Banning Single-Use Plastics

A total of 175 governments from around the world agreed in 2022 to draw up a global agreement by the end of 2024 to put an end to plastic pollution. Survey data published by Ipsos shows that the global public is in support of this, for example a global ban of single-use plastics. A whopping 85 percent of respondents across 32 countries agree with banning those single-use items that are unnecessary and likely to become plastic pollution. According to the survey, support is strong in Africa, Latin American countries as well as in developing Asia.

In the U.S., 73 percent are in favor - one of the lowest results. The fewest people agreed in Japan at just 60 percent. The country is known for being reliant on convenience store meals as well as wrapping many items in plastic extensively. According to the Minderoo Foundation, both Japan and the U.S. are major producers of plastic products and plastic waste.

Among the countries with the most supporters are Indonesia (96 percent) and Peru (94 percent) and Uganda (93 percent). The highest level of support in Europe comes out of Ireland (93 percent), showing that island nations and those with extensive coastlines tend to be more aware of plastic pollution which often affects the oceans. 

The survey also addresses the importance of producing less plastic globally, something that an even higher average of people - 87 percent - want to see legislated. About as many people want to see rules to prescribe minimum amounts of recycled plastics in packaging, bans on hard to recycle plastics and better labels of what plastics contain and how they were made.