The world produced about 242 million tons of plastic waste in 2016, according to the World Bank. Some 8 million of that enters the ocean annually, with China and Indonesia being the biggest offenders, a study in the journal Science showed. Plastic ocean trash has sparked public outrage with the spread of images of plastic debris-strewn beaches and dead animals with stomachs full of plastic. G20 host Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wanted to make tackling the issue a priority at the G20 summit in Osaka this past weekend. He has said he wants Japan to lead the world in this mission, including by developing biodegradables and other innovative alternatives. The final communique released on Saturday said the group had adopted an “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” to reduce additional marine plastic litter to zero by 2050, but provided few details on how that would be achieved.

G20 plastic trash reduction goal doesn't address 'excessive production: Activists. (2019, July 2). Malaya Business Insight, p. B5.