The impact of plastic pollution on the environment is a growing concern. Without intervention, plastic pollution generated annually in South Africa is set to almost double by 2040 as compared to 2020 levels.

A combination of strategies is needed to effect a system change that can effectively reduce plastic pollution in South Africa. This will require a collaborative approach between all stakeholders and a commitment to support the necessary changes across the value chain.

The Pathways tool, which evolved from The Pew Charitable Trusts’ 2020 report “Breaking the Plastic Wave”, is a modelling framework and software tool developed by Professor Richard M Bailey (University of Oxford) in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts. With funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the tool has been used by the CSIR in South Africa,  which marks the first time it has been applied at a national level in any country.