Since 1950 and for nearly six decades, fossil fuel-based plastics have accounted for the large majority, if not all of global plastics production, amounting to a cumulative 380 million metric tons in 2021. Bio-based plastics accounted for a significantly lower share of plastic production at that time, reaching only 3.9 million metric tons in the same year.
Cumulative plastic production volume worldwide from 1950 to 2018, 2019, and 2021, by feedstock type
(in million metric tons)
The figures shown for 2018 refer to the total cumulative global production of plastics from 1950 to 2018, and the figures for 2019 and 2021 refer to the same information but for 1950 to 2019, and 1950 to 2021 respectively.
This statistic has been assembled using more than one edition of the report.
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nova-Institute. (March 14, 2023). Cumulative plastic production volume worldwide from 1950 to 2018, 2019, and 2021, by feedstock type (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1114289/global-cumulative-plastic-production-by-type/
nova-Institute. "Cumulative plastic production volume worldwide from 1950 to 2018, 2019, and 2021, by feedstock type (in million metric tons)." Chart. March 14, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1114289/global-cumulative-plastic-production-by-type/
nova-Institute. (2023). Cumulative plastic production volume worldwide from 1950 to 2018, 2019, and 2021, by feedstock type (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1114289/global-cumulative-plastic-production-by-type/
nova-Institute. "Cumulative Plastic Production Volume Worldwide from 1950 to 2018, 2019, and 2021, by Feedstock Type (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Mar 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1114289/global-cumulative-plastic-production-by-type/
nova-Institute, Cumulative plastic production volume worldwide from 1950 to 2018, 2019, and 2021, by feedstock type (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1114289/global-cumulative-plastic-production-by-type/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Cumulative plastic production volume worldwide from 1950 to 2018, 2019, and 2021, by feedstock type (in million metric tons) [Graph], nova-Institute, March 14, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1114289/global-cumulative-plastic-production-by-type/
