It has long been widely recognized that plastic pollution harms our ecosystems, economies and communities. By the 1960s, scientists discovered that more than 100 million tons of waste had been dumped into the sea. 60 years have passed since then, and the findings of science are nothing short of horrifying: 18 tons of plastic are dumped into the seas every minute. If single-use plastic production continues to grow at current rates, it could account for 5-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. chemical substances. In addition, plastic threatens the very existence of the planet’s oceans and freshwater ecosystems. Companies can also be seriously hurt if they simply continue their business as usual. According to ecosystem conservation organization The Pew Charitable Trusts, they may be required to pay a special tax in the future to help cover the cost of collecting and safely disposing of plastic – an estimated $100 billion a year. In addition, businesses risk losing the legitimacy that society provides for them to operate.

All things considered, it is appalling and disappointing that decision makers such as investors and politicians lack comprehensive, clear and comparable data on the production, use and disposal of plastics in the global economy. If we are to take effective action to address this problem, data on the use of plastic by companies is needed. Less information means less confidence for investors. When a company does not know how it is solving the plastics problem, investors can never be sure of its true fundamentals and real investment risk. For example, business growth prospects may be inextricably linked to the production or consumption of single-use plastic. The important information is how the company is integrating the single-use plastic ban into its growth strategies and whether it is investing in solutions. It is difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate a company’s performance if its investments in plastics management and solutions remain hidden.

Financial groups are increasingly concerned about the risk of liabilities and arrears associated with provisions to combat climate crises and extreme natural events. One such example is the ban on single-use plastics. Last year, a report by As You Sow showed that investments in petrochemicals and plastics worth about $400 billion could become assets, potentially impaired or liabilities for the companies involved. Companies that currently disclose plastic-related data, such as the volume of single-use plastic sold, can help investors make informed decisions about how to allocate their funds in a sustainable way.

* Ms. Kate Lamb is Director of Global Affairs and Water Management at CDP, a US non-profit organization.