Global plastics use was projected to have fallen over two percent in 2020 to 449 million metric tons. The projected decrease was mainly a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions it had on industries around the world. Plastics use is expected to have recovered in 2021, rising above pre-pandemic levels. The largest end-user of plastics is the packaging sector, which accounted for 143 million metric tons of plastics use in 2019. Building and construction ranked second that year, with approximately 77 million metric tons of polymers used within this sector.
Projected plastics use worldwide from 2019 to 2021, by application
(in million metric tons)
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OECD. (March 6, 2022). Projected plastics use worldwide from 2019 to 2021, by application (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342662/plastic-use-worldwide-outlook-by-application/
OECD. "Projected plastics use worldwide from 2019 to 2021, by application (in million metric tons)." Chart. March 6, 2022. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342662/plastic-use-worldwide-outlook-by-application/
OECD. (2022). Projected plastics use worldwide from 2019 to 2021, by application (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342662/plastic-use-worldwide-outlook-by-application/
OECD. "Projected Plastics Use Worldwide from 2019 to 2021, by Application (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Mar 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342662/plastic-use-worldwide-outlook-by-application/
OECD, Projected plastics use worldwide from 2019 to 2021, by application (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342662/plastic-use-worldwide-outlook-by-application/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Projected plastics use worldwide from 2019 to 2021, by application (in million metric tons) [Graph], OECD, March 6, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342662/plastic-use-worldwide-outlook-by-application/
