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IGAD Regional Plastic Pollution Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan (2026-2035)

Plastic production contributes significantly to the global economy and is increasing rapidly. Production is estimated to have increased from 2 million metric tons to 414 million metric tons annually between 1950 and 2023 and is projected to reach 736 million tons by 2030 (OECD, 2022).

Plastic products are widely used in packaging, agriculture, and health sectors, and support the livelihoods of poor communities, especially women and youth. The processing industry is estimated to employ about nine million people worldwide. However, poor production systems, use, and disposal of plastics pollute ecosystems and negatively affect the health of organisms and the climate.

Plastic products are non-biodegradable, and when plastic waste is not properly managed, it accumulates and causes pollution. About two- thirds of plastic products are single-use items that are disposed of immediately after use, accumulate in the environment, and are a major source of pollution. Plastic products break down into microplastics (<5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 mm), which have been identified in the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat, and consequently in human lungs, the digestive tract, and even the human brain. They have been linked to many diseases.

About 25% of chemical additives used in the manufacture of plastic products are persistent, bioaccumulative, or toxic. Some are reported to mimic, block, or alter the action of hormones, reduce fertility, and damage the nervous system. Plastic production and the incineration of plastic waste produce about 400 million tons of CO2 per year, as well as other harmful substances that contribute to global warming and pollution.

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