Estimate your pandemic-related waste footprint.
The COVID-19 pandemic generated an estimated 8.4 million tonnes of pandemic-associated plastic waste globally by mid-2022, with 25,000+ tonnes entering the ocean. An estimated 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves were used monthly at the pandemic's peak. Each surgical mask contains 3.5 g of polypropylene — a plastic that takes over 450 years to decompose and sheds microplastics. The WHO estimated that 87,000 tonnes of PPE were procured through a single UN portal between March 2020 and November 2021, most of which became waste. Before COVID, global plastic production for healthcare was rising 5% annually; pandemic demand caused a one-time 40% spike. The silver lining: the pandemic accelerated research into biodegradable mask materials and reusable PPE alternatives.