Sustainable plastic use

Last reviewed: 7 September 2026

Sustainable plastic use refers to the appropriate use of plastic in suitable applications within resource-efficient, climate-efficient, non-toxic, and circular systems, with negligible leakage into the environment.

At the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, we believe that achieving sustainable plastic use requires the following:

  • Plastic should not be used unnecessarily.
  • Plastic should be made from raw materials with a low environmental impact.
  • Plastic should be recycled as a material.
  • Plastic should be free from hazardous substances.
  • Plastic should not end up in nature or harm people, animals, or ecosystems.

Plastic has significant value and provides many societal benefits when used in the right place and in the right way. In some applications, plastic can contribute to energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Our use of plastic must become more sustainable so that we can continue to benefit from products that make everyday life easier and in applications where plastic offers environmental advantages.

To reduce our impact on the planet, we need to use plastic more resource-efficiently. Like other materials, plastic must be adapted to fit within a circular economy, minimizing environmental and climate impacts while reducing litter and preventing plastic leakage into the environment.

Four measures for sustainable plastic use

All parts of the plastic value chain can contribute to a more sustainable plastic use, including the design and development of plastic products, production and manufacturing, trade and distribution, consumer use, and the recycling sector.

Sustainable plastic use is based on four equally important areas:

Resource-efficient use means using plastic in a way that delivers the greatest possible value while minimizing the amount of material required throughout its life cycle. A key aspect of this approach is to first identify the function or benefit that is needed and then determine how it can be achieved in the most resource-efficient way. This includes avoiding unnecessary consumption, such as the use of products and materials that do not contribute to their intended function. Increasing reuse, developing effective reuse systems, and establishing the infrastructure needed to support them are also essential components of resource-efficient plastic use.

To achieve climate and other environmental goals, the environmental impact of raw materials and production processes should be minimized, taking a life-cycle perspective. This means that products should be designed with consideration for their environmental impacts throughout their entire life cycle, including production, use, and end-of-life management. Factors such as the risk of plastic leakage into the environment, recyclability, and potential impacts on issues such as food waste and fuel consumption should be taken into account. Bio-based plastics are often a more environmentally sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics, but this is not always the case. 

A significant increase in high-quality recycling is essential for reducing the climate impact associated with the production and incineration of plastic raw materials. It is also a key component of achieving resource-efficient use of both fossil-based and bio-based materials, thereby helping to reduce negative impacts on biodiversity and other environmental objectives. Closing the loop requires action across multiple parts of the value chain, from product design and collection systems to improved sorting and increased demand for recycled raw materials. This applies to both mechanical recycling and various forms of chemical recycling.

Plastic leakage includes both plastic litter and microplastics that end up in the environment, either through littering or through unintentional releases such as wear and tear. It also includes illegal waste management and disposal practices. Addressing this challenge requires action both to tackle the sources of plastic leakage and to limit the pathways through which plastics spread in the environment. It also involves cleaning up plastic waste that has already leaked into nature.