Plastics today: Key challenges and EU strategies towards carbon neutrality: A review

Environmental Pollution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 334, С. 122102 - 122102

Опубликована: Июль 4, 2023

Never as today the need for collaborative interactions between industry, scientific community, NGOs, policy makers and citizens has become crucial development of shared political choices protection environment, safeguard future generations. The complex socio-economic environmental interconnections that underlie EU strategy last years, within framework Agenda 2030 green deal, often create perplexity confusion make difficult to outline definition a common path achieve carbon neutrality "net zero emissions" by 2050. Scope this work is give general overview policies, directives, regulations, laws concerning polymers plastic manufacturing, aiming reduce pollution, allowing better understanding implications concern may generate from social-economical point view.

Язык: Английский

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Assessing the environmental and health impacts of plastic production and recycling

World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 17(2), С. 232 - 241

Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2024

Plastic production and recycling have become integral processes in modern society, but their environmental health impacts garnered significant attention recent years. This review outlines key findings from a comprehensive assessment of these impacts, drawing range scientific literature empirical studies. The footprint plastic encompasses various stages, extraction raw materials to manufacturing distribution. These contribute greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, pollution air, water, soil. Additionally, waste, particularly single-use items, poses threat ecosystems wildlife, with marine environments being vulnerable. While is often promoted as solution mitigate the impact plastics, its effectiveness limited by factors. Challenges such contamination, inadequate infrastructure, low rates collection hinder potential benefits. Moreover, process itself can generate pollutants albeit lesser extent than primary production. Beyond concerns, implications use are increasingly recognized. Plastics contain additives phthalates bisphenols, which been linked endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, other problems humans wildlife. Furthermore, accumulation microplastics environment raises concerns about bioaccumulation transfer through food chain, for human health. Addressing requires multifaceted approach, including reduction improvement infrastructure technologies, development alternative materials, policy interventions promote sustainable practices. highlights complex interplay between usage, degradation, public health, underscoring need concerted efforts challenges.

Язык: Английский

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Global producer responsibility for plastic pollution

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 10(17)

Опубликована: Апрель 24, 2024

Brand names can be used to hold plastic companies accountable for their items found polluting the environment. We data from a 5-year (2018-2022) worldwide (84 countries) program identify brands on in environment through 1576 audit events. that 50% of were unbranded, calling mandated producer reporting. The top five globally Coca-Cola Company (11%), PepsiCo (5%), Nestlé (3%), Danone and Altria (2%), accounting 24% total branded count, 56 accounted more than 50%. There was clear strong log-log linear relationship production (%) = pollution between companies' annual pollution, with food beverage being disproportionately large polluters. Phasing out single-use short-lived products by largest polluters would greatly reduce global pollution.

Язык: Английский

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A US perspective on closing the carbon cycle to defossilize difficult-to-electrify segments of our economy

Nature Reviews Chemistry, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 8(5), С. 376 - 400

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Electrification to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions is essential mitigate climate change. However, a substantial portion of our manufacturing and transportation infrastructure will be difficult electrify and/or continue use carbon as key component, including areas in aviation, heavy-duty marine transportation, the chemical industry. In this Roadmap, we explore how multidisciplinary approaches enable us close cycle create circular economy by defossilizing these difficult-to-electrify those that need carbon. We discuss two for this: developing alternatives improving ability reuse carbon, enabled separations. Furthermore, posit co-design use-driven fundamental science are reach aggressive reduction targets. To achieve net-zero emissions, must industries electrify. Developing needed provide non-fossil accelerate advances towards defossilization.

Язык: Английский

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Macro- and Microplastics in the Antarctic Environment: Ongoing Assessment and Perspectives

Environments, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 9(7), С. 93 - 93

Опубликована: Июль 15, 2022

The number of scientists and tourists visiting Antarctica is on the rise and, despite management framework for environmental protection, some coastal areas, particularly in Antarctic Peninsula region, are affected by plastic contamination. few data available occurrence microplastics (<5 mm) difficult to compare, due different methodologies used monitoring studies. However, indications emerging guide future research implement protocols. In surface subsurface waters Southern Ocean, debris >300 µm appears be scarce far less abundant than paint chips released from vessels. Yet, near scientific stations, fragmentation degradation larger items, as well microbeads microfibers into wastewater personal care products laundry, could potentially affect marine organisms. Some studies indicate that, through long-range atmospheric transport, fibers produced other continents can deposited Antarctica. Drifting also cross Polar Front, with potential carry alien fouling organisms Ocean. Sea ice dynamics appear favor uptake algae krill, key species food web. Euphausia superba apparently has ability fragment expel ingested particles at nanoscale. most endemic species, unique ecophysiological adaptations extreme conditions likely highly sensitive cumulative stresses caused climate change, anthropogenic disturbances. Although there limited evidence date that micro- nanoplastics have direct biological effects, our review aims raising awareness problem order assess real impact Antarctica, underlines urgency fill methodological gaps their detection all matrices, equip stations ships adequate treatment plants reduce release microfibers.

Язык: Английский

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Opportunities for single-use plastic reduction in the food service sector during COVID-19

Sustainable Production and Consumption, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 30, С. 1082 - 1094

Опубликована: Фев. 2, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in consumption of single-use plastics (SUPs), particularly the food service sector, due to concerns for public health and safety. To follow guidelines, services have been limited takeout restricted use personal reusable items. This study investigated opportunities reduce increased SUPs Nova Scotia sparked by using semi-structured interviews focus groups with stakeholders from sector. Many participants had already implemented SUP reduction strategies prior COVID-19. However, forced businesses rely on pause strategies. Obstacles included operational challenges restrictions, misunderstanding local waste management systems, costs transitioning zero plastic waste, poorly manufactured alternatives, greenwashing, ingrained societal convenience culture. Whilst not all patterns were attributed COVID-19, these barriers prevented retailers, managers consumers achieving zero-plastic goals. Food should adopt strategies, including re-introducing reusables, implementing exchange programs bulk items takeout, providing education awareness staff consumers, sourcing sustainable alternatives. can be immediately as officials researchers agree used safely when basic hygiene measures. across adapt their procedures create behaviour change SUPs.

Язык: Английский

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The tropics should not become the world's plastic pollution problem

Journal of Tropical Futures Sustainable Business Governance &amp Development, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 1(1), С. 12 - 24

Опубликована: Апрель 5, 2023

Unsustainable plastic production, use and mismanagement have resulted in increased pollution the environment threatening sustainability, especially tropics. Countries tropics been disproportionally impacted by due to imports of waste from developed countries, or because tropical Small Island Developing States become overwhelmed single-use plastics used widely tourism sector. However, is pervasive not just limited Plastic has widespread environmental, economic social impacts globally. Most are derived fossil fuels which contribute climate change via greenhouse gas emissions, also harms wildlife biodiversity, thus placing enormous pressure on earth’s resources. Although downstream strategies curb exist, they infective face upstream production. Therefore, international community recognized that a more holistic approach required reduce pollution. Current production generation still outpacing existing reduction regulations. This viewpoint shows why unsustainable global pollution, including tropics, but highlights how ambitious policies can help transition towards sustainable future.

Язык: Английский

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Microplastic Pollution: Threats and Impacts on Global Marine Ecosystems

Sustainability, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 15(17), С. 13252 - 13252

Опубликована: Сен. 4, 2023

This study investigates the scope of global marine microplastic pollution and its implications on ecosystems human health. We first delve into how plastic enters ocean, with an emphasis accumulation along coastlines, particularly formation impact Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). Through a concentration map microplastics across five continents, distribution is revealed. Furthermore, effects wildlife are explored, as well their potential entry food chain, posing public health risks. The results our research underscore serious threats to health, emphasizing need for more scientific policy measures address this challenge.

Язык: Английский

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Review and recommendations for sustainable pathways of recycling commodity plastic waste across different economic regions

Resources Environment and Sustainability, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14, С. 100134 - 100134

Опубликована: Авг. 6, 2023

Commodity plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and terephthalate (PET) are some of the common plastic wastes found in municipal wastes. Lack technology, resources, coherent programs, policies, mismanagement incomplete processing these plastics, results mostly endinf up landfills. Adopting a qualitative research approach, paper reviewed PE, PP PET recycling waste management processes from selected developed developing countries. It was that chemical terms catalytic cracking followed by pyrolysis technologies more suitable for producing higher liquid oils whiles gasification improves fuel gas yield. Given mechanical requires less capital it is option products In cases where there complex separation issues, incineration energy recovery appropriate but should be used with end-of-pipe treatment solutions to mitigate against environmental impact incineration. The further highlights various opportunities challenges involved pathway, yields obtained each technique adaptation can made.

Язык: Английский

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Assessing the environmental impact of plastic flows in urban areas: A life cycle assessment and scenario analysis study

Journal of Cleaner Production, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 449, С. 141761 - 141761

Опубликована: Март 15, 2024

Urban areas have a considerable impact on the environment. Among sectors contributing to environmental impacts is plastic product usage, resulting in urban waste accumulation. There exists need determine and evaluate flows their areas. Our research comprehended modelling of eight most commonly used polymers system European city with 10ˆ5 inhabitants for year 2020. A scenario analysis was conducted, considering Union's policy achieving 65 % recycling rate by 2035. Plastic production contributes during life cycle, where polyurethane, polystyrene other types are at forefront. The results per management options revealed that still preferable waste, followed incineration landfill. Recycling potential further noted analysis, an increased fraction following EU's could decrease global warming margin 20 %–45 fossil resource scarcity %–52 individual polymer. While established model indicates benefits, improved data collecting, needed improve establish nexus within

Язык: Английский

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