World Faces 225 Million Tonnes of Plastic Waste in 2025
Plastic Overshoot Day Arrives Earlier Than Ever
On 5 September 2025, the world reached Plastic Overshoot Day – the point in the calendar when the volume of plastic produced exceeds the planet’s ability to manage it safely. From now until the end of the year, every tonne of plastic created is expected to be either mismanaged or left to pollute the environment.
According to new figures from the non-profit group Earth Action For Impact, global plastic waste will reach 225 million tonnes this year – five million more than in 2024. This marks a 9.7% increase compared with 2021 and highlights a widening gap between production and disposal capacity.
The Scale of the Problem
The report warns that almost 80% of the world’s population is already living in countries where waste management systems are overwhelmed. Just 12 nations account for 60% of all mismanaged plastic, illustrating how unevenly the burden is distributed.
On average, every person on the planet will generate 28kg of plastic waste in 2025. Of that total, nearly a third, around 72 million tonnes – will not be properly collected or treated, meaning it will end up in rivers, oceans or landfill.
Packaging, Textiles and Household Goods Drive Growth
Packaging remains the single biggest contributor, representing a third of global plastic production. Textiles follow at 17%, while disposable household goods make up a further 5%.
This highlights how everyday consumption choices, combined with supply chains still dependent on single-use plastics, are fuelling the crisis.
Data Gaps and the Push for Transparency
The findings draw on research from Plasteax, now evolving into the Packaging Data Hub – a new platform developed by Earth Action and consultancy Systemiq. The aim is to create a “single source of truth” for packaging data to support better decisions by businesses, governments and investors.
The Packaging Data Hub is intended to fill critical knowledge gaps and support more effective policy and investment decisions.
Treaty Talks Stalled
The release of the report comes just weeks after the breakdown of UN treaty negotiations on plastic pollution in August 2025. Despite two draft texts being tabled, delegates failed to reach consensus.
According to Earth Action, opposition from several of the largest plastic-producing nations blocked progress on measures such as capping production and banning toxic chemical additives. The stalemate raises concerns over how quickly international regulation can respond to the escalating plastic crisis.
The data from 2025 paints a clear picture: plastic waste is growing faster than the systems designed to control it. With overshoot now beginning in early September, urgent action is required from policymakers, industry and consumers alike.
At Affordable Waste Management, we support UK businesses in meeting their commercial waste obligations under national legislation. From collection and disposal to recycling, our role is to help organisations manage waste responsibly, avoid penalties, and operate more sustainably.