The only way we’ll ever completely replace plastic is by harnessing the potential of plant-based materials. But with over a million tonnes of plastic produced worldwide every day, we need a lot of plants to truly turn the tide. One possible solution lies with miscanthus. It's a fast-growing plant that not only sequesters huge amounts of carbon, but has myriad applications in the consumer space, from thermoformed trays to tree-free paper. 

There are strides to be made in collaborative approaches, and investments needed into R&D. But this hardy, fibrous plant - which grows on marginal land not fit for food crops - represents a localised solution to the plastic problem for manufacturers based in the US, UK, and Europe.