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Analyzing Government Plans for the Plastic Value Chain in the Latin American Circular Economy
Summary
Despite its title referencing the plastic value chain and circular economy in Latin America, this paper analyzes government policy plans for managing plastics through a circular economy lens across Latin American countries — not microplastic pollution directly. It examines how well national plans address lifecycle phases of plastic and is only tangentially relevant to microplastics through the broader context of reducing plastic waste.
Abstract The discernible benefits of the circular economy (CE) within the plastic value chain have prompted Latin American governments to implement strategic plans. This study assessed the landscape of CE plans in Latin America concerning the plastic value chain. Through content analysis of the plans guided by a question-based evaluation framework, the study delved into how they address key phases of the value chain, including product design, manufacturing and distribution, retail and consumption, and end-of-life management. The results indicate that 10 out of the 24 countries have launched CE-specific or related plans targeting plastics. Chile and Ecuador stand out. The region shows a notable imbalance in emphasis across the value chain phases, with a predominant focus on end-of-life management. Relevant proposals in this phase include promoting cross-sectoral valorization of plastic waste, improving waste collection and sorting, and addressing social inequalities among waste pickers. However, initiatives aimed at increasing recycling rates and enhancing recycling quality are under-prioritized. The remaining phases require the intensification of three crucial actions: promoting financial support for the design and market competitiveness of new materials and technologies, reducing the production of problematic petrochemical plastics, and launching innovative strategies to achieve a culture of sustainable consumption and circular habits. The current landscape of CE plans, therefore, exhibits a "silo approach", highlighting the need for a shift towards a "comprehensive value chain approach". The study also provides recommendations for each phase of the plastic value chain to support CE decision-making in countries. Graphical Abstract
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