The European Union (EU27 + Norway, Switzerland and United Kingdom) produces over 40 million tonnes of fossil-based polymers each year for making plastic products. Of this amount, between 11 and 13 million tonnes are lost. That is, this is plastic that is not accounted for as waste, has not been exported, and cannot be assumed to be part of durable consumer goods that have not yet reached the end of their useful life. (...)

In the EU+3, over 30 million tonnes of plastic waste are collected annually. More than 70% ends up in incinerators or landfills, while only 6–7 Mt return to the production cycle. Even more concerning is the gap of over 20 million tonnes between production and recorded waste. While part of this is stored in durable goods, such as buildings or vehicles, roughly 11–13 Mt per year can only be explained as plastic that has escaped into the environment. (...)

Water is an essential nutrient that plays vital roles in our body. Unlike other nutrients, we can barely store it, so we are forced to continually replenish it through liquid consumption. Developed societies have managed to supply the population with quality water although the occasional presence of contaminants quickly jump out to the media and generates public concern. (...)