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Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution

Science 2020 1594 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Julien Boucher, Richard C. Thompson Ed Cook, Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Emilia Jankowska, Martin Stuchtey, Richard C. Thompson Winnie W. Y. Lau, Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Richard C. Thompson Jutta Gutberlet, Jutta Gutberlet, Linda Godfrey, Ed Cook, Costas A. Velis, Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Edward Kosior, Ed Cook, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Yonathan Shiran, Ed Cook, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Costas A. Velis, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Winnie W. Y. Lau, Winnie W. Y. Lau, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson U. Rashid Sumaila, U. Rashid Sumaila, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard M. Bailey, Ed Cook, Costas A. Velis, Costas A. Velis, Costas A. Velis, Costas A. Velis, Julien Boucher, Julien Boucher, Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Ed Cook, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Arturo Castillo Castillo, Richard C. Thompson Richard M. Bailey, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Martin Stuchtey, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Julia Koskella, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Costas A. Velis, Richard C. Thompson Jutta Gutberlet, Richard C. Thompson Linda Godfrey, Winnie W. Y. Lau, Richard C. Thompson Julien Boucher, Julien Boucher, U. Rashid Sumaila, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Margaret B. Murphy, Richard C. Thompson Margaret B. Murphy, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Emilia Jankowska, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Arturo Castillo Castillo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Toby D. Pilditch, Ben Dixon, Ben Dixon, Linda Godfrey, Laura Koerselman, Edward Kosior, Enzo Favoino, Jutta Gutberlet, Sarah Baulch, Richard C. Thompson Meera E. Atreya, U. Rashid Sumaila, David Fischer, Kevin K. He, Milan M. Petit, U. Rashid Sumaila, Emily Neil, Mark Bernhofen, Richard C. Thompson Keith Lawrence, James E. Palardy, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson

Summary

Researchers modeled five different intervention scenarios for reducing global plastic pollution between 2016 and 2040 and found that even implementing all feasible solutions would only cut pollution rates by 40% compared to 2016 levels. Under a business-as-usual scenario, 710 million metric tons of plastic waste would still accumulate in ecosystems even with immediate action. The study makes clear that coordinated global efforts across consumption reduction, recycling, waste collection, and innovation are urgently needed.

Plastic pollution is a pervasive and growing problem. To estimate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce plastic pollution, we modeled stocks and flows of municipal solid waste and four sources of microplastics through the global plastic system for five scenarios between 2016 and 2040. Implementing all feasible interventions reduced plastic pollution by 40% from 2016 rates and 78% relative to "business as usual" in 2040. Even with immediate and concerted action, 710 million metric tons of plastic waste cumulatively entered aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. To avoid a massive build-up of plastic in the environment, coordinated global action is urgently needed to reduce plastic consumption; increase rates of reuse, waste collection, and recycling; expand safe disposal systems; and accelerate innovation in the plastic value chain.

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