Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

Abstract

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Plastic waste exposed to the environment creates problems and is of significant concern for all life forms. Plastic production and accumulation in the natural environment are occurring at an unprecedented rate due to indiscriminate use, inadequate recycling, and deposits in landfills. In 2019, the global production of plastic was at 370 million tons, with only 9% of it being recycled, 12% being incinerated, and the remaining left in the environment or landfills. The leakage of plastic wastes into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The management of plastic waste is a challenging problem for researchers, policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders. Therefore, here, we summarize the current understanding and concerns of plastics pollution (microplastics or nanoplastics) on natural ecosystems. The overall goal of this review is to provide background assessment on the adverse effects of plastic pollution on natural ecosystems; interlink the management of plastic pollution with sustainable development goals; address the policy initiatives under transdisciplinary approaches through life cycle assessment, circular economy, and sustainability; identify the knowledge gaps; and provide current policy recommendations. Plastic waste management through community involvement and socio-economic inputs in different countries are presented and discussed. Plastic ban policies and public awareness are likely the major mitigation interventions. The need for life cycle assessment and circularity to assess the potential environmental impacts and resources used throughout a plastic product’s life span is emphasized. Innovations are needed to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover plastics and find eco-friendly replacements for plastics. Empowering and educating communities and citizens to act collectively to minimize plastic pollution and use alternative options for plastics must be promoted and enforced. Plastic pollution is a global concern that must be addressed collectively with the utmost priority.

Implementing a GIS-Based Digital Atlas of Agricultural Plastics to Reduce Their Environmental Footprint; Part I: A Deductive Approach

“…This issue is now very much felt in the scientific community. In the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), many references to plastic pollution [12] and its effective use and reuse [13] are included. There are many alternatives to the use of plastics [14], but since it is still an experimental field, it is necessary to identify methodologies and practices for proper monitoring and management at local level.…”

Greening Factor Framework Integrating Sustainability, Green Supply Chain Management, and Circular Economy: The Chilean Case

“…Despite the global objective of the SDGs being seen as promoting prosperity while protecting the planet [1], a wide range of other actions can be taken to contribute at different levels with this main objective. Hence, different authors have conducted several pieces of research from different perspectives striving main goal [22][23][24][25]. The authors of [26] perform a systematic literature review to gather information regarding how companies integrate and implement environmental improvements aligned with the SDG and the global value chain.…”

Indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment: How plastic contamination from disposable surgical masks affect early development of plants

“…Environmental impacts of pollution with plastics, which are artificially produced materials, are among the biggest emerging threats to the Earth’s ecosystems ( Kumar et al 2021 ). Conventional, petroleum-based plastics are polymerized from hydrocarbon-derived monomers, and then improved with several, often toxic additives, including dyes, stabilizers, and plasticizers to achieve the desired texture and properties ( Meng et al 2021 ).…”