IELTS Writing Task 2: Environment — Problem & Solution Sample Answer

Plastic pollution has reached crisis proportions, with microplastics now detected in human blood, Arctic ice cores, and deep ocean trenches. Understanding why this problem has accelerated so dramatically — and who bears responsibility for addressing it — requires examining multiple contributing factors.

The primary driver of plastic pollution is the structural mismatch between production volumes and waste management capacity. Global plastic production has increased twentyfold since 1964, yet recycling infrastructure in most nations processes only a small fraction of plastic waste. Single-use plastics — packaging, bags, straws, and cups — are particularly problematic because their brief functional life generates enormous volumes of waste that persist in environments for centuries. In lower-income countries, inadequate formal waste collection means much of this material enters rivers and coastal waters directly. In wealthier nations, contaminated or complex plastic composites are often landfilled or incinerated because recycling them is economically unviable.

Addressing the crisis requires coordinated action across all levels of society. Individuals can substantially reduce their plastic footprint by choosing reusable containers and supporting businesses with sustainable packaging policies. However, individual action is insufficient without structural change. Businesses must redesign products and supply chains for the circular economy, prioritising recyclability and material reduction from the design phase. Governments carry the heaviest responsibility: banning the most harmful single-use products, as the European Union has done, imposing plastic levies that reflect true environmental costs, and investing in modern waste management infrastructure create the conditions for systemic change.

Extended producer responsibility legislation — requiring manufacturers to fund end-of-life management of their products — has proven particularly effective in countries where it has been rigorously enforced.