Plastic Neutral Cities: What You Need to Know

Plastic Neutrality is quite a simple concept, yet a difficult one to achieve: "keep plastic in the system". We don't have that system yet, nor all the plastic will be suitable to be transformed or used and reused again and again.

Plastic becomes waste because of an economic design flaw, one that created an extremely versatile and useful material, but with a pretty limited lifetime of functionality, before it becomes waste. This flaw does not account for basic externalities in the production, as these petrochemical-based polymers are highly subsidized all over the world and end-of-life costs are transferred to and paid by society (and nature).

Mare Nostrum is forging an alliance with municipal and state governments, Hotels & Restaurant associations, bottling companies, NGO’s, and religious leaders to transition La Paz and Los Cabos to Plastic-Neutrality by 2025. This will entail the conversion of plastic residues from costly unwanted waste to valuable long-lasting commodities, and the re-imagining of the municipal waste management systems to become strategic components of a regional Circular Economy.

“As major engines for economic growth, cities can drive the circular economy agenda forward to unlock economic, environmental, and social benefits. Alongside Sustainable Development Goals and climate objectives, the transition to a circular economy will support city leaders as they deliver against their priorities, which include housing, mobility, and economic development.” Ellen MacArthur Foundation