• The Swiss consume one million tonnes of plastic per year.
 • In Switzerland, 14,000 tonnes of plastic end up in the environment each year.
 • 86% of waste collected along lake shores and watercourses is made of plastic.

Plastic refers to a vast range of synthetic materials. It is generally derived from petroleum or other fossil fuels. Plastic is present in all sectors of activity, and it is one of the most widely used materials in the world¹. For the year 2024, global plastic production is estimated at over 500 million tonnes² ! And this figure could double by 2050, exceeding one billion tonnes³ produced annually. 1 million⁴ tonnes per year, or 120 kilograms per capita. This high consumption generates a substantial amount of waste. Each year, 790,000 tonnes⁵ of plastic are discarded in our country. Half of this volume consists of short-lived items (lasting less than a year), primarily packaging. 14,000 tonnes per year⁶ ! The majority is emitted through tire abrasion (8,900 tonnes per year) in the form of microplastics. The other major source is littering, i.e. waste abandoned in the natural environment (in particular packaging). Every year in Switzerland, 2,700 tonnes⁷ of plastic enter the environment via littering, costing municipal bodies 200 million Swiss francs. A study⁸ conducted by the Hammerdirt Foundation and the FOEN, to which the Summit Foundation contributed, shows that 86% of waste collected along the shores of lakes and watercourses is made of plastic. Plastic is not biodegradable⁹, ; it can persist in the environment for decades or even hundreds of years. And these plastics are a source of persistent organic pollutants ¹⁰(POPs) due to the additives incorporated into them. Moreover, they are harmful to wildlife¹¹, which can ingest them, become trapped in plastic waste, and suffocate because of them.

• Reduce the use of plastic packaging and make sure it is recycled or disposed of properly.
• When hiking, bring a bag for your waste, choose reusable containers, and a reusable water bottle instead of disposable bottles.

Let's act together against plastic pollution.