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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to End of life at the top of the world—stakeholder perspectives for plastics and circular transitions in the Arctic
ClearEstimation of plastic waste accumulation in the Arctic
Researchers analyzed sources, spatial distribution patterns, and mass transfer dynamics of plastic and microplastic pollution in the Arctic, proposing plastic waste management approaches and a community-based monitoring program to track microplastic accumulation across Arctic regions.
Are northern communities an overlooked source of microplastics and tire wear particles in the Arctic?
Researchers asked whether northern remote communities (Arctic and sub-Arctic) are an overlooked source of microplastic pollution relative to their small populations, finding that waste management practices in these areas can disproportionately contribute to local contamination. The study highlights the importance of addressing plastic waste management in all community types.
An Integrated Analysis of Plastic Packaging Value Chain: Identifying Barriers and Enablers for a Circular Economy
Researchers analyzed the full plastic packaging value chain to identify barriers and enablers for transitioning to a circular economy, tracing the evolution of circular economy concepts and quantifying the environmental impacts associated with exponential plastic waste growth. The study provides an integrated framework mapping opportunities for intervention across production, use, collection, and recycling stages.
Developing a Circular Economy for Fishing Gear in the Northern Periphery and Arctic Region: Challenges and Opportunities
This paper examines the challenges and opportunities for creating a circular economy for fishing gear — including lost and abandoned nets — in the Arctic and Northern European region. Discarded fishing gear is a major source of ocean plastic pollution, and recovering and recycling it could significantly reduce marine litter in these remote waters.
Ocean plastic crisis—Mental models of plastic pollution from remote Indonesian coastal communities
Remote coastal communities in Indonesia are overwhelmed by plastic pollution despite low plastic literacy, largely because rising living standards have increased single-use plastic consumption while geography and poor waste infrastructure leave communities with few disposal options. The study highlights the need for supply-side interventions and better waste management systems, not just consumer education.
Plastics’ circular economy for the Galapagos Islands? Exploring plastics governance with implications for social and ocean equity in a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Researchers explored the feasibility of implementing a plastics circular economy in the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing significant marine plastic pollution. They examined the governance structures needed to address plastic waste while balancing conservation goals with the needs of local communities. The study highlights how remote island communities in the global South face unique challenges in managing plastic pollution equitably.
Governance of plastics in the Arctic
This paper analyzed governance frameworks for managing plastic pollution in the Arctic, examining how international agreements, national policies, and Indigenous governance systems interact to address the unique challenges of plastic in polar environments. It identified key governance gaps given the Arctic's vulnerability.
Understanding the socioeconomic determinants of marine plastic pollution: Evaluating policy effectiveness and mitigation strategies in the Global South.
Researchers synthesized qualitative and quantitative evidence on marine plastic pollution in the Global South, identifying rapid urbanization, inadequate waste infrastructure, and weak governance as primary drivers, and recommending integrated strategies combining single-use plastic bans, extended producer responsibility, regional cooperation, and circular economy incentives.
The occurrence and sources of microplastics to Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches: human influence on local microplastic hotspots
Researchers characterized microplastic occurrence and sources at Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches, finding that proximity to human settlements creates local hotspots, while more remote beaches receive microplastics primarily through long-range oceanic transport.
The Governance of Waste in Iqaluit, Nunavut
This thesis examines waste governance in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where the remote Arctic city lacks sophisticated waste management infrastructure and faces unique challenges from colonialism and neoliberal governance. The study is an anthropological and governance analysis rather than an environmental science study of microplastics.
Managing plastic pollution in the Arctic ocean: An integrated quantitative flux estimate and policy study
Researchers quantified the amount of plastic entering and leaving the Arctic Ocean through rivers, sea ice, and ocean currents, and assessed the gap between existing pollution levels and current policy measures. The study found that Arctic plastic pollution is likely underestimated and that current regulations are insufficient to prevent further accumulation in this sensitive ecosystem.
Including local voices in marine debris conversations to advance environmental justice for island and coastal communities: perspectives from St. Paul Island, Alaska
Researchers partnered with the predominantly Alaska Native community of St. Paul Island to incorporate local knowledge into marine debris solutions, finding that remote coastal communities face disproportionate environmental justice burdens by bearing the cleanup costs of debris they did not generate.
Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples
Researchers reported some of the first measured values for microplastic particles in Arctic polar waters, finding contamination even in these remote high-latitude waters and raising questions about long-range transport mechanisms.
Assessing the current state of plastic pollution research in Antarctica: Knowledge gaps and recommendations
This review assessed the current state of research on plastic pollution in Antarctica, one of the most remote regions on Earth. Researchers found that despite its isolation, plastic contamination has been detected across Antarctic environments and wildlife, though significant knowledge gaps remain. The study recommends standardized sampling methods and more comprehensive monitoring to better understand the true extent of plastic pollution in Antarctic ecosystems.
An Overview of the Current Trends in Marine Plastic Litter Management for a Sustainable Development
This review summarizes current knowledge about marine plastic litter, from its land-based origins to its distribution across ocean environments, and evaluates recovery and recycling strategies. Researchers found that while technologies for collecting and recycling marine plastics are advancing, significant economic and logistical barriers remain. The study emphasizes that a circular economy approach, combining prevention, collection, and material recovery, is essential for addressing ocean plastic pollution.
Socio-Economic Development of the Arctic: Modern Challenges and Priorities
This review identifies key trends and gaps in scientific literature on socioeconomic development in the Arctic, analyzing research priorities for this strategically important and environmentally sensitive region. The study is focused on economic and social topics rather than microplastic contamination.
Plastic litter in the European Arctic: What do we know?
Researchers reviewed available evidence on plastic litter in the European Arctic, finding that despite limited data, microplastics are present in every environmental compartment — including sea ice — and are being transported to this remote region from distant sources via ocean currents and wind.
From coast to community: assessing marine plastic pollution impacts on ecosystems and human health in Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard through a One Health and technology-enhanced community monitoring approaches
Researchers with the ICEBERG project used a One Health framework to assess marine plastic pollution impacts on ecosystems and human health in Iceland, Greenland, and Svalbard, working in partnership with Indigenous communities. The study identified microplastic contamination across coastal food webs in these Arctic regions and evaluated implications for subsistence harvesting.
Microplastics Distribution within Western Arctic Seawater and Sea Ice
Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in seawater and sea ice of the western Canadian Arctic, including the previously unstudied Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area. The study found microplastic contamination throughout the region while highlighting gaps in existing Arctic microplastic data.
Microplastic pellets in Arctic marine sediments: a common source or a common process?
Researchers examined microplastic pellet contamination in Arctic marine sediments to understand whether their presence reflects common sources or shared degradation processes. The study found that microplastics are accumulating on the Arctic seafloor, contributing to growing evidence that plastic pollution reaches even the most remote ocean environments.
Plastics as a carrier of chemical additives to the Arctic: possibilities for strategic monitoring across the circumpolar North
Researchers reviewed evidence of plastic chemical additive transport to the Arctic via plastic pollution, identifying monitoring gaps and recommending strategic surveillance frameworks to track additive fate and accumulation across circumpolar environments and food webs.
Potential Analysis of the Plastics Value Chain for Enhanced Recycling Rates: A Case Study in Iceland
Researchers evaluated Iceland's plastics value chain to identify opportunities for enhanced recycling rates, conducted a feasibility study on expanding the deposit-return system to Skyr cups, and proposed recommendations for improving circular economy performance and meeting EU packaging waste recycling targets.
Monitoring litter on Arctic and subarctic shorelines: current status and next steps for monitoring programs
This review examines the current state of marine litter monitoring on Arctic and subarctic shorelines and recommends steps toward harmonized pan-Arctic monitoring protocols, including community-based monitoring, crowdsourced science programs, and science team surveys to enable detection of long-term plastic pollution trends.
Remote, but Not Isolated—Microplastics in the Sub-surface Waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago
Microplastics were found in subsurface waters throughout the remote Canadian Arctic Archipelago, indicating that plastic pollution has reached even the most isolated polar regions. Increasing Arctic shipping routes may be introducing additional local sources of plastic contamination to these pristine environments.