Regulation of plastic from a circular economy perspective

Syberg, Kristian; Nielsen, Maria Bille; Clausen, Lauge Peter Westergaard; Calster, Geert Van; Wezel, Annemarie P. van; Rochman, Chelsea M.; Koelmans, Albert A.; Cronin, Richard; Pahl, Sabine; Hansen, Steffen Foss

doi:10.1016/j.cogsc.2021.100462

Cited by 91 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Syberg et al [145] overviewed policy initiatives for plastics mitigation and a value chain for analyzing the circular plastics economy. For better understanding, Rochman et al [146] suggested integrating science and policy to solve global plastic waste management with the help of scientific evidence for MPs and NPs mitigation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2021

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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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2021

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“…Regulation of plastic pollution has gradually shifted from early bans of plastic bags and regulation of general waste handling toward facilitating the transition aimed at a circular economy. This shift in focus has resulted in legislation, and countries around the world have begun to focus explicitly on how much plastic waste they produce, how much is managed, and whether that management is sustainable, such as the European single-use plastics directive which aims at regulating plastics at several different stages in the lifecycle rather than focusing on one stage in the lifecycle, such as the waste phase [ 41 ].On 4 December 2019, Prime Minister of the Vietnamese Government issued the National Action Plan for the Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030. One of the general objectives in dealing with marine plastic litter in the Plan is to take an approach which aligns with the circular economy model, facilitating plastic waste collection, recycling, and reuse in Vietnam.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavior Strategy Analysis Based on the Multi-Stakeholder Game under the Plastic Straw Ban in China

Chen

Zhang

Yang

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Since 1 January 2021, China has banned nondegradable disposable straws in the catering industry. To promote the enforcement of the ban of plastic straws and improve the relationship between economic development and environmental protection, based on the evolutionary game method, this paper constructs the game model from the supply side and the demand side, respectively. Subsequently, through the dynamic equation, stable system evolution strategy is obtained. Furthermore, simulation is conducted to test the influence of the main parameters in the model on the evolution of system strategy. The results show that (1) the change of the government strategy mainly depends on its regulation costs and revenue, while the production strategy of a company is affected by the government and consumer strategies. (2) From the perspective of enterprise supply, government subsidies can promote technological innovation and develop new plastic straw substitutes. However, government penalties have little effect on violating enterprises. In addition, from the perspective of enterprise demand, with the collaboration of enterprises and consumers, it is easier for enterprises to carry out technological innovation. (3) Consumer acceptance of the substitutes for disposable plastic straws as well as online comments have a decisive influence on the enterprises’ selections for research and development (R&D) strategies.

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“…Globally, there has been an exponential increase in the quantity of plastics produced for their various industrial applications; consequently, there is also an equally astronomical increase in the wastes generated from these polymers. It was recently estimated that the manufacture of plastic had grown astronomically from a few tons in the early 1950s to close to 400 million tons in 2018 ( Syberg et al, 2021 ). Plastic wastes have since been recognized as pervasive, relatively non-biodegradable, and widely distributed across different ecosystems on our planet ( Amobonye et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: A Current Overview

et al. 2021

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The increasing distribution of miniaturized plastic particles, viz. microplastics (100 nm–5 mm) and nanoplastics (less than 100 nm), across the various ecosystems is currently a subject of major environmental concern. Exacerbating these concerns is the fact that microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) display different properties from their corresponding bulk materials; thus, not much is understood about their full biological and ecological implications. Currently, there is evidence to prove that these miniaturized plastic particles release toxic plastic additives and can adsorb various chemicals, thereby serving as sinks for various poisonous compounds, enhancing their bioavailability, toxicity, and transportation. Furthermore, there is a potential danger for the trophic transfer of MNPs to humans and other higher animals, after being ingested by lower organisms. Thus, this paper critically analyzes our current knowledge with regard to the environmental impacts of MNPs. In this regard, the properties, sources, and damaging effects of MNPs on different habitats, particularly on the biotic components, were elucidated. Similarly, the consequent detrimental effects of these particles on humans as well as the current and future efforts at mitigating these detrimental effects were discussed. Finally, the self-cleaning efforts of the planet via a range of saprophytic organisms on these synthetic particles were also highlighted.

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Regulation of plastic from a circular economy perspective

Cited by 91 publications

References 9 publications

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

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

Behavior Strategy Analysis Based on the Multi-Stakeholder Game under the Plastic Straw Ban in China

Environmental Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: A Current Overview

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