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Enhancing consumption responsibility to address global plastic pollution

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2022 19 citations

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This study examined how to enhance consumption responsibility as a strategy to address global plastic pollution, arguing that excessive consumption and unsound disposal drive marine and microplastic contamination and that a new global governance framework is needed to establish individual and collective accountability.

Plastic pollution is a global crisis, especially in the marine environment. Excessive consumption and unsound disposal are responsible for the constant accumulation of plastic waste, resulting in plastic litter and microplastic contamination on a global scale. Establishing a new global framework is regarded as a promising tool to address plastic pollution, including marine plastic litter. However, there is a need to raise awareness of the role of consumers at individual and national levels in reducing the use of unnecessary plastics and increasing the recycling of plastic waste. The global framework should incorporate aspects of the importance of consumption responsibility in solutions addressing the issue of plastic pollution.

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