Key Takeaways
- Plastics are a significant public health concern: GlobeScan’s consumer research shows that microplastics and chemicals in the body are people’s top concern about single-use plastic waste globally.
- Global action faces major hurdles: Experts view a Global Plastics Treaty as highly impactful but one of the least feasible sustainability measures, a view validated by the recently stalled treaty negotiations.
- Brands face a leadership moment: As consumer expectations remain high and policy lags, companies that take bold action on plastics reduction can strengthen trust, loyalty, and legitimacy.
Public concern over plastic pollution is widespread, driven by deep anxiety about its effects on human health. GlobeScan’s Healthy & Sustainable Living 2024 study reveals that 70 percent of people globally feel directly impacted by single-use plastic waste. Among those most concerned about single-use plastic waste in the environment, the leading concern is not climate change or ocean pollution, but rather the presence of microplastics and chemicals in the human body.
While public concern is strong, global policy progress has faltered. GlobeScan’s Sustainability at a Crossroads research, conducted with ERM and Volans prior to the latest treaty negotiations, found that experts ranked a Global Plastics Treaty as highly impactful but among the least feasible actions out of 64 sustainability measures assessed. Recent events have borne this out, as treaty talks have since stalled without meaningful commitments.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The gap between the low feasibility of a global treaty and the significant public concern over the health impacts of plastics presents both risk and opportunity for business. Brands that take decisive action to reduce plastics can build consumer trust and credibility, while those that delay may face reputational challenges with increasingly health-conscious audiences.
This analysis is based on GlobeScan’s Healthy & Sustainable Living research (a representative online survey of over 30,000 people across 31 markets conducted in 2024) and Sustainability at a Crossroads research (a 2025 survey of 844 sustainability practitioners in 72 countries, conducted in collaboration with ERM and Volans). Explore the Sustainability at a Crossroads report for more on how sustainability experts believe we can best navigate today’s pivotal moment for global action.
Survey Question: How much are you personally affected by each of the following? – Single-use plastic waste in the environment; What are you most concerned about when it comes to single-use plastic?
