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Assessing the Carbon Footprint of Plastics: From Polymer Synthesis to Environmental Pollution
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This review traces the carbon footprint of plastics across their full lifecycle — from petrochemical polymer synthesis through transport, use, and disposal — demonstrating that fossil fuel dependence at every stage makes plastics a substantial driver of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. The analysis underscores the need for sustainable material alternatives and improved waste management to break the link between modern consumption and plastic-driven climate harm.
Throughout their existence, plastics, which are now omnipresent in contemporary life, have been a substantial contributor to the destruction of the environment and the release of carbon. This article aims to investigate the carbon footprint of plastics, beginning with their foundation in polymers derived from petrochemicals and ending with their disposal as pollutants. The manufacturing of plastics requires a significant amount of energy. It depends on fossil fuels, which emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In addition, the environmental effect of plastics is further exacerbated by their lifespan, which includes shipping, consumption, and disposal of the material. This article highlights the urgent need for sustainable alternatives and better waste management techniques to offset plastic pollution's mounting environmental difficulties and carbon emissions.
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Implications of plastic pollution on global carbon cycle
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This review examines how plastic pollution disrupts the global carbon cycle through the production of fossil-fuel-based plastics, the release of carbon during plastic degradation, and the leaching of chemical additives into the environment. Microplastics and nanoplastics from degrading plastic waste affect carbon cycling in both soil and water ecosystems. The findings highlight that plastic pollution is not just a waste problem but also contributes to climate-related disruptions that ultimately affect human well-being.
Contribution of plastic and microplastic to global climate change and their conjoining impacts on the environment - A review
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This review examines how the entire lifecycle of plastics -- from production to disposal -- contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, with plastic production projected to account for up to 13% of Earth's carbon budget by 2050. The paper also discusses how microplastics in the ocean disrupt carbon-absorbing marine organisms, creating a feedback loop that worsens both climate change and the spread of toxic plastic particles through the food chain.
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This review examines how the plastic life cycle — from fossil fuel extraction through manufacturing to disposal — generates substantial greenhouse gas emissions, while environmental microplastics disrupt ecosystems and reduce ocean carbon sequestration, creating a bidirectional link between plastic pollution and climate change.
Contribution of Plastics and Microplastics in the Global Carbon Economy: A Link Between Green Economy and Carbon Footprint
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This review paper explains that almost all plastic comes from fossil fuels, and making it produces huge amounts of climate warming emissions, even before it breaks down into microplastics that pollute our environment. It matters because the plastics we use every day are quietly fueling climate change, and better recycling, biodegradable materials, and stronger policies could help reduce both plastic waste and its hidden carbon impact.
Spatial Patterns of Plastic Lifecycle Emissions and Their Contribution to Global Climate Drivers- A Geographical Study
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This review paper pulls together existing research showing that plastic production and waste, from oil extraction to ocean breakdown, adds significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, not just fossil fuels alone. It also highlights how ocean microplastics disrupt marine systems that normally absorb carbon, meaning our plastic habits may be quietly worsening climate change while current recycling policies fall short of fixing the problem.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.