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Framing pollution
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This social science analysis explores how "pollution" — and microplastics specifically — is defined not just by science but by political, economic, and cultural forces. The paper examines different ways of framing microplastic pollution: as a waste management failure, a consumer behavior problem, or an inevitable product of industrial capitalism, each with different implications for who bears responsibility. It argues that understanding the social and political dimensions of microplastic pollution is essential for developing just and effective responses.
Social scientists argue that what constitutes ‘pollution’ is far from obvious and is rather a complex and dynamic process. Emerging issues such as microplastics pollution become subject to considerable struggles for definition that owe as much to political and social forces as scientific research. This section reflects on the complexity of pollution and how the issue is intertwined with culturally specific ideas about waste classification as well as wider questions related to societal inequalities and power. Analyses of how pollution is framed and conceptualised— whether as ‘matter out of place’, caused by poor waste management by consumers or as an inevitable by-product of a capitalist system can provide us with useful lenses through which to explore overarching debates concerning the shifting relationship between humans and nature and science and society. More recent research highlights how pollution must be addressed alongside issues of social justice, environmental racism and the power dynamics of a global industrial economy.
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Telling stories about (micro)plastic pollution: Media images, public perceptions and social change
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This paper examines how microplastic pollution has been framed in media reporting and how the public understands the issue, finding that culturally embedded ideas about risk and health shape people's responses. Understanding media framing and public perception is important for designing effective communication strategies around microplastic contamination.
Next steps for research on society and microplastics
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This perspective paper outlined priority directions for social and behavioral science research on microplastics, building on the established contributions of social sciences to understanding policy, stakeholder views, and public behavior around plastic pollution. The authors called for greater integration of social science methods to address governance gaps and support effective microplastic management.
More Than a Potential Hazard—Approaching Risks from a Social-Ecological Perspective
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This social-ecological systems paper argues that microplastics should be understood not just as a physical hazard but through the lens of social and ecological risk — considering how human behavior, governance, and ecosystem dynamics interact to determine actual harm. A broader framing beyond toxicology is needed to develop effective management responses.
Navigating regulatory complexities: Challenges and shifting problem framings in turning microplastics into a European policy object
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European microplastic regulation has evolved through interacting scientific, economic, and political forces rather than purely through evidence accumulation, with regulatory institutions and industry interests shaping which interventions become viable. This analysis highlights why technical solutions alone are insufficient — effective governance of microplastic pollution requires aligning scientific standards, public concern, and policy levers simultaneously.
Next steps for research on society and microplastics
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This perspective paper assessed the contributions of social and behavioral sciences to microplastics research, covering policy analysis, public education, and stakeholder engagement. The authors argue for greater integration of social science methods to understand and reduce plastic pollution at the human systems level.
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.