Plastics are everywhere – for good reason – they're cheap, abundant and can go into a myriad of different products from food packaging to vital medical equipment. But plastic waste has a devastating effect on the environment and the manufacturing process is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The world is trying to agree on a treaty to reduce plastics pollution but a recent meeting in South Korea ended in failure. Graihagh Jackson talks to experts on the past and future of plastics, and she hears a report from Malaysia, where plastic waste dumps can be up to 15 metres high.

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Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Reporter in Malaysia: Leana Hosea
Guests: Susan Frankel, author of "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story", and Dr Cressida Bowyer, Associate Professor in Arts and Sustainability at the University of Portsmouth.
Producer: Octavia Woodward
Production Support: Ellie House
Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie Morrison
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts