Plastic pollution: Why we’re failing to cut down

Ambitions and targets for reduction abound, but with few binding commitments – and as global demand for fuel declines, oil companies are looking to turn the excess into plastic, writes Phoebe Weston

Global plastic production is set to double in the next 15 years and many oil and gas companies will benefit (Getty)

We’re inundated with pictures of plastic waste trashing the environment. People desperately want to “do something”... but mountains of rubbish continue to grow with no sign of slowing.

Even in the UK – despite widespread awareness about the issue – we’re buying more plastic water bottles than ever before.

This suggests that campaigns to use refillable water bottles and shun single-use plastic have had little impact on overall trends.