We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Guiding the transition to a sustainable plastic system: towards a plastic system assessment framework
AI summary Read the abstract
This thesis developed a plastic system assessment framework to evaluate short-lived plastic products against sustainability criteria, balancing the triple planetary crisis contributions of plastic production against the functional value plastics provide in modern daily life.
Plastics in short lived products (SLP) contribute to the triple planetary crisis, due to the emission of greenhouse gas emissions during production, use and end-of-life and the leakage of (micro) plastics into the environment, threatening human and ecosystem health. On the other hand, in our modern daily lives, plastics provide important functionalities, such as transporting and protecting our food and providing us comfortable clothes. To eliminate or lessen the contribution of plastics to the triple planetary crisis and simultaneously maintain the functionalities, the plastic system needs to be re-evaluated and reconfigured. We are developing a plastic system assessment framework (PSAF) to guide the transition towards a sustainable plastic system for SLP. The starting point of this framework is the use of plastic products and the functionality that they provide. This allows for the creation of sustainable designs, including the selection of sustainable materials. Building on this, material flows are modelled on a system-level, and the sustainability of these systems is assessed with multiple indicators. Besides traditional life cycle assessment indicators (e.g., global warming potential), new indicators relevant for plastics are developed (e.g., the microplastic accumulation potential of polymers and plastic products). The framework shows how all aspects of the technical system are interlinked and how changes affect system sustainability. The PSAF will enable us to study the sustainability of different scenarios of a reconfigured plastic system and the pathways towards such a new system. These insights could guide policymakers and stakeholders in transitioning to a sustainable plastic system for SLP and will identify key innovations (new materials and recycling methods) that could drive progress towards a such a sustainable system. In this presentation, we will give an overview of the framework and specifically focus on how microplastic accumulation is calculated.
More Papers Like This
A multidisciplinary perspective on the role of plastic pollution in the triple planetary crisis.
AI summary Read the abstract
This perspective paper argues that plastics are a central driver of all three dimensions of the planetary crisis — pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss — and must be addressed with the same urgency as carbon emissions. The authors call for a multidisciplinary approach that recognizes plastics as a systemic environmental threat rather than a siloed waste management issue.
Global Plastic Industry Transition Addressing Key Drivers of the Triple Planetary Crisis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers modelled global and regional transition scenarios for the plastic industry, integrating strategies to reduce fossil fuel dependence and shift to circular production models. They found that addressing plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss simultaneously requires a coordinated policy package across the full plastic value chain.
Role of Plastics in Modern Life: Benefits, Risks and Environmental Consequences
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the dual role of plastics in modern society — their economic benefits alongside environmental and public health risks — and surveys strategies for more sustainable plastic production and disposal.
Minimizing the environmental impacts of plastic through eco-design
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a sustainability metric for eco-designing plastic products with low environmental persistence by integrating the environmental degradation rate of plastics into established material selection frameworks. The approach allows designers to compare materials on both functional performance and environmental persistence using material property indices.
How is Sustainable Management of Plastic Possible?
AI summary Read the abstract
This German-language paper presents the PlastX research group's interdisciplinary approach to understanding plastic as a systemic environmental risk, covering microplastics, marine litter, packaging, and bioplastics. Researchers argue that addressing the plastic problem requires analysing the full social, technical, and ecological system rather than any single component.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.