The Environmental Impact of Plastics

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By 2050 plastic consumption is going to account for 20% of oil and gas production. It's a huge use of a fossil fuel with the same kinds of emissions issues as any other fossil fuel. Toxic chemicals are used, hazardous chemicals are used that if they do get into the environment can damage wildlife and human health.

The environmental law charity ClientEarth and 13 other groups headed into a Flemish court this week in an effort to stop Ineos building a petrochemical plant that would be the biggest project of its kind in Europe for 30 years. Madeleine Finlay hears from correspondent Sandra Laville about how plastics are made, the environmental and health impacts of the process and what needs to be done to get a handle on plastic pollution. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod