As the UN prepares to mark World Environment Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about replacing plastic with natural materials with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.
In 2021, the global trade in plastics was around 369 million tonnes. That’s enough to fill 18 million trucks, creating a traffic jam encircling the Earth 13 times.
Less than 10% of all plastic produced has been recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and oceans, taking years and decades to break down.
But many natural materials – like bamboo, sand and algae – could be used to make eco-friendly versions of the straws, bags, bottles and wrappers we use and discard every day.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s David Vivas to find out how the shift to plastic substitutes goes beyond helping the planet by offering economic opportunities, especially for developing countries.
97. The future of AI: Why innovation and regulation must go hand-in-hand
96. Rough seas ahead: How can global supply chains navigate shipping disruptions?
95. A matter of survival: Why small island states need resilience and prosperity
94. Vital knowledge: Why science and technology are so important for our future
93. Fractured future: What shifting investment patterns mean for development
92. Pedal to the metal: Why electric car batteries need to be cleaner and greener
91. Growth going to waste: UN trade and development update sees multiple challenges slowing economic momentum
90. Healthy not hungry: Why good food is a key ingredient for development
89. Moving up: Bhutan graduates to UN's developing country status but challenges remain for other LDCs
88. That’s rubbish: How our waste is choking the planet and how we can clean it up
87. K-popification: Why South Korea’s creative economy is an inspiration for others
86. Fisherman's blues: Why the fisheries industry needs to get much greener
85. Women’s Day: Why investing in women is the key to faster development for all
84. Money on the move: How remittances and trade work together for development
83. Precarious passage: Red sea ship attacks strain supply chains
82. Measuring what matters: Why inclusive growth means more than just GDP
81. Israel-Gaza crisis: Palestinian economy needs billions to rebuild and much more to grow
80. Foundations for the future: Why the global financial system needs big changes to boost sustainable development
79. SOS for the SDGs: Why saving the development goals needs trillions of dollars in investment
78. Bleak or bountiful future: Why fertilizer is vital to global food supplies
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Jim & Bill (It‘s Another Day)
HauntingLive
Dr. Paul’s Worldviews
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Tucker Carlson Show