Plastic Waste as a Challenge Cannot Be Ignored: Characteristics, Sources, Impacts, and Unveiling Potential Solutions through Photocatalysis for Environmental Sustainability

The extensive use and persistent physicochemical stability of plastics have given rise to a critical environmental issue, impacting terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems globally. This chapter delves into the characteristics, sources, and impacts of plastic waste while exploring potential solutions through photocatalysis to address these challenges in response to environmental sustainability. The occurrence of plastic waste has prompted concerns about its abundance, transportation, and decomposition. Plastic waste undergoes degradation into micro to nano-sized particles, facilitating their widespread dispersion in air, water, and soil. In marine environments, plastic debris poses a threat by entangling and endangering marine life. The repercussions extend beyond environmental boundaries, disrupting human lives as well. Human health faces direct consequences through exposure to chemicals derived from plastics, microplastic contamination of the food supply chain, and direct contact. In the quest for a sustainable future, photocatalysis emerges as a promising technology capable of mitigating environmental and health issues associated with plastic waste. Additionally, these processes are gaining recognition as green approaches, widely applicable for plastic degradation and upcycling into value-added products, thus proactively addressing environmental challenges. The findings advocate for the potential of photocatalysis as an excellent application for enhancing the degradability of plastics and managing waste effectively.