Limits to Plastic Growth: Towards a global cap on primary plastics production

Limiting the global production of primary plastics is necessary to curb greenhouse gas emissions as well as the environmental and health impacts of
plastic pollution.

A cap on primary plastic production is possible and has precedent in environmental and climate change law. One approach for implementing such a cap is through a cap-and-trade system, which involves the distribution of production allowances.

Different approaches to allocating plastic production allowances vary in terms of their alignment with equity principles for distributive justice, either mitigating or reinforcing existing inequalities.

The allocation and trade of allowances can facilitate redistribution and compensation between states. However, it is important to learn from past experience of cap-and-trade systems and be aware of potential shortcomings.