Advanced technologies are changing our lives — and they can help us beat plastic pollution

The surge in plastics production over the past decade has far outpaced our capacity to manage its environmental consequences. Between 2012 and 2022, global plastics production rose by approximately 39% to around 400 million metric tons, while global recycling rates are yet to break the 10% rate.

This gap underscores the urgent need for simultaneous interventions on multiple fronts, including reducing production, improving recycling and reuse processes, adopting alternative materials and extending the life of plastic-based goods.

Over a similar timeframe, we have also witnessed an unprecedented pace in the development and deployment of technology. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) — marked by advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and blockchain — is reshaping industries and economies at a breathtaking pace. These technologies carry the potential to revolutionize the fight against plastic waste. Fully harnessed, they could not only transform linear production systems into circular economies — for example by enabling smarter waste management, by better materials tracking or through innovative approaches to recycling — but also fuel innovations in alternative materials, biodegradation or more accurate consumption data.

Through 2024, the World Economic Forum and Accenture collaborated to identify opportunities for a more effective deployment of 4IR technologies to address plastics pollution. Here’s what we learned.

Financing is crucial, and when it comes to tackling plastic pollution, investment flow determines whether progress is local or global, narrow or comprehensive. Between 2018 and 2023, $190 billion was invested in circular plastic initiatives. However, 82% of this funding was directed toward recovery and recycling technologies — vital efforts, yet only one part of the value chain. Preventive measures, reuse models and digital waste management systems remain underfunded by comparison.

Even more alarming is where the investment goes — or doesn’t. Just 6% of these investments reached emerging markets, despite their overwhelming share of the global plastic pollution burden. The Global South, in particular, suffers from inadequate waste management infrastructure and the environmental consequences of wealthy nations' plastic exports, yet it still receives a fraction of the financial support needed to address the crisis.

This disparity is hindering progress. Capital flows remain heavily concentrated in the Global North, and the focus on established recycling processes risks overlooking the innovation and impact needed elsewhere in the plastics economy. To achieve meaningful global progress, investment strategies must shift to encompass the full spectrum of solutions, from prevention to reuse, and include greater financial backing for emerging markets, where the stakes are highest.

Despite significant technological advancements, efforts to scale innovative solutions for plastic pollution have faltered. Smart waste management systems, blockchain-enabled material tracking and advanced recycling methods hold promise but remain far from widespread adoption. One major obstacle lies in the patchwork of local regulatory environments. Some countries, particularly in Europe, enforce stringent rules for recycling and reuse, aided by public awareness and support for circularity. Others lack the infrastructure required for cohesive waste management policies, as well as the technological capability to implement them. These disparities complicate the global deployment of solutions that are scalable and standardized.

Digital tools such as track-and-trace systems have the potential to transform material flows, facilitate accountability and optimize circularity. Yet these systems remain chronically underfunded. Of the $190 billion invested globally in circular plastic initiatives between 2018 and 2023, a mere 2.3% was allocated to technologies that automate waste management or track materials across the supply chain. Without prioritizing these tools, real progress toward effective plastic management risks being held back.

To fulfill their potential, technologies such as blockchain-based tracing, automated waste sorting and reuse platforms require more than technological sophistication. They need regulatory alignment, sufficient funding and collaboration across industries. Undervalued areas like digital and circular systems must see greater investment to reduce reliance on virgin plastics and foster systemic progress. A circular plastics economy will depend on creating an ecosystem that prioritizes prevention and reuse alongside recovery and recycling.

“Track and trace solutions need to be understood from end to end of the value chain and require all stakeholders to buy into the solution, which takes time.” — Global FMCG Company

“A lot of these Track & Trace startups are hindered by client dependency, with only one big client, leading to building of only bespoke solutions.” — Global Investor

“There should be a universal standard such as GS1 for data sharing, interoperability, etc., integrated within the Plastics Treaty for standardization of processes.” — Global FMCG Company

“The big value of traceability of these systems is network based. If you are the only company on the platform, the value is zero.” — Innovator

Technology alone cannot solve the plastic waste problem. For innovations like blockchain-based tracking, advanced recycling methods and automated systems to thrive, they need a fertile supporting ecosystem. This ecosystem includes aligned regulations, infrastructure investments and collaboration across industries. The landscape for nurturing technology-based solutions is highly local, hindering a fast replication of systemic solutions across borders.

The journey toward a better plastics economy is complex, requiring more than just technological innovation. It demands a collaborative approach across industries, regions and stakeholders to foster an environment where these technologies can not only survive but thrive. Visionary leadership is especially critical for the deployment of fast-paced technologies to address plastic pollution. The same leadership that is making 4IR technologies ubiquitous in our daily lives can rally the global community towards improving the enabling conditions for successful implementation, toward a stronger and more nuanced investment, including in emerging markets and/or under-attended technologies.

For real progress, global partnerships, standardized regulations and a shared commitment to beating pollution will be essential. Only through collective action can we bridge the gap between potential solutions and scalable, impactful change.

The scaling challenge is real. A one-size-fits-all solution is impractical. Tackling the plastic waste crisis requires a combination of technological innovation and an enabling ecosystem — complete with better regulations, infrastructure and partnerships designed to promote synergy and scalability. If leaders prioritize these shifts and focus on collaboration, we can take meaningful strides toward combating plastic pollution.

The geopolitical landscape of 2025 offers an opportunity to strengthen global collaboration. While challenges remain, evolving solutions — such as advanced traceability tools — are set to play a transformative role in improving transparency, accountability and circularity within the plastics economy. By fostering partnerships and embracing technological innovations, the international community can take meaningful steps toward scalable solutions to combat plastic pollution, paving the way for more unified and impactful global action.