Plastic waste officially exceeded the planet’s capacity to handle it on Friday, 5 September 2025 – a milestone the Swiss research group Earth Action For Impact has dubbed ‘Plastic Overshoot Day’, edie reported.
The group estimates that global plastic waste will reach about 225 million tonnes this year – equal to roughly 28 kilograms for every person on Earth.
Only 68% of that waste can be managed effectively, leaving around 72 million tonnes with nowhere to go. Much of it is expected to end up as pollution through open burning, dumping, littering, or poorly run landfills.
Since 2021, plastic waste per capita has risen by 10%, driven by heavier use of packaging and faster turnover of synthetic textiles. In total, global waste increased by around five million tonnes – a 0.2% rise year on year – yet Plastic Overshoot Day falls on the same date as in 2024.
Efforts to reach a UN-backed treaty on plastic pollution collapsed again last month, the second breakdown in negotiations. Talks exposed a deep divide: some nations pushed for binding targets to cut plastic production, while others sought to defend their petrochemical sectors.
NGOs are now calling for reforms to the process, suggesting majority or supermajority voting and more frequent sessions to improve the chances of a stronger agreement. The most recent talks required full consensus to finalise any deal.
Earth Action For Impact also noted that some of the worst offenders – countries producing far more plastic than they can manage, including China, Russia, India and Iran – have resisted stricter commitments.
Meanwhile, the financial think-tank Planet Tracker warned last year that litigation over plastics could cost $20bn in the US alone by 2030 and up to $100bn worldwide.
