Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

China’s regulatory respond to plastic pollution: Trends and trajectories

Analysis of 231 plastic-related Chinese government policies from 2000 to 2021 revealed increasing regulatory attention to plastic pollution with a shift from general waste management toward specific single-use plastic restrictions after 2020. The findings highlight China moving toward more targeted plastic governance despite its large contribution to global ocean plastic.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Waste and a Circular Economy in China

This review examines China's plastic waste management challenges and the country's progress toward implementing circular economy principles for plastic recovery and recycling. As one of the world's largest plastic producers and consumers, China's plastic waste policies have major global implications for the amount of plastic that ultimately becomes microplastics.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Research and management of plastic pollution in coastal environments of China

This review summarizes research on plastic pollution in China's coastal environments, noting that as the world's largest producer of plastic waste, China faces significant environmental challenges. Researchers found that microplastics have been detected in surface waters, sediments, and the water column along Chinese coasts from both land-based and sea-based sources. The study highlights that while national-level policies address plastic waste broadly, there is virtually no legislation specifically targeting microplastic pollution.

2019 Environmental Pollution 146 citations
Article Tier 2

The Legal dilemmas and pathways for managing plastic waste pollution in China: An assessment of current regulations and a vision for future governance frameworks

This paper systematically analyses the current state of plastic waste legal regulation in China and proposes a framework for future governance, examining how the rapid growth of the e-commerce, express delivery, and food delivery industries has sharply increased plastic product consumption. The authors assess existing regulatory gaps and outline pathways toward more effective and comprehensive plastic waste management law.

2024 Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development
Article Tier 2

An Overview of Management Status and Recycling Strategies for Plastic Packaging Waste in China

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper reviews Chinese policy and recycling technology for plastic packaging waste, focusing on regulatory frameworks, carbon emissions, and recycling infrastructure rather than microplastic contamination or health risks.

2023 Recycling 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Looking for a Chinese solution to global problems: The situation and countermeasures of marine plastic waste and microplastics pollution governance system in China

This study analyzed China's marine plastic waste and microplastic pollution governance system, examining policy frameworks across blue economy development, plastics industry reform, and public health awareness, while proposing countermeasures to curb marine pollution intensification.

2021 Chinese Journal of Population Resources and Environment 45 citations
Article Tier 2

The Value of China’s Legislation on Plastic Pollution Prevention in 2020

Researchers reviewed China's 2020 wave of plastic pollution legislation passed after a 12-year legislative gap, arguing that while the regulations arrived late, they represent a meaningful and necessary step toward controlling the country's severe plastic pollution through legally binding production and usage restrictions.

2021 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on China’s Plastic Consumption Trend and Sustainable Development Countermeasures

Despite its title referencing plastic consumption, this paper focuses on forecasting China's future plastic demand and proposing policy frameworks for the plastics industry — not on microplastic pollution or health effects. It examines production trends, packaging, construction, and automotive sectors, and is a policy and economics paper rather than a microplastics science paper.

2025 Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review on the sources and instruments of marine microplastics and prospects on the relevant management in China

This critical review examined sources, distribution, and monitoring instruments for marine microplastics in China, identifying key knowledge gaps and proposing management strategies to address the country's significant contribution to global ocean plastic pollution.

2018 Waste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 157 citations
Article Tier 2

An Environmental Dilemma for China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Explosion of Disposable Plastic Wastes

Researchers analyzed how China's COVID-19 response — including mass online delivery and widespread mask use — created a surge in single-use plastic waste that undermined the country's 2020 plastic ban, highlighting the tension between pandemic management and plastic pollution control.

2021 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 32 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2026 Marine pollution bulletin
Article Tier 2

Impact of Microplastics in the Environment on Human Health and Its Policy Analysis: A Case Study on China

Researchers examined the health impacts of microplastics in China from a health economics and public policy perspective, finding that plastic waste is associated with increased demand for respiratory medicines, likely due to airborne MP release. The paper reviews China's microplastic policy landscape and proposes four improvement areas including targeted monitoring and clearer departmental responsibilities.

2025 Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies
Article Tier 2

A critical review of microplastic pollution in urban freshwater environments and legislative progress in China: Recommendations and insights

This critical review examines microplastic pollution across urban freshwater environments in China, synthesizing findings on contamination levels, sources, and ecological effects in a context of rapid urbanization affecting over 800 million urban residents. The authors review legislative progress and provide recommendations for improving monitoring standards, reducing plastic inputs, and aligning Chinese policy with international frameworks.

2020 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Waste: Challenges and Opportunities to Mitigate Pollution and Effective Management

Researchers reviewed plastic waste generation and management strategies globally, identifying lack of technical skills, inadequate recycling infrastructure, and poor regulatory awareness as the main barriers to addressing the ~400 million tons of plastic produced annually.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Research 706 citations
Article Tier 2

The difficulties and path of China’s NGOs participating in marine plastic waste governance

Researchers examined the challenges and pathways for Chinese non-governmental organizations to participate effectively in marine plastic waste governance, analyzing organizational capacity, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder relationships. The study found that NGOs face significant institutional barriers and recommends policy reforms that provide clearer roles and stable funding for civil society engagement in ocean plastic management.

2024 Marine Development 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Industry Development and Natural Environment Protection

This paper from China reviews how rising plastic production and improper disposal are increasing microplastic contamination in the environment, threatening both ecological and human health. It calls for improved pollution control strategies and stronger regulatory oversight of the plastic industry.

2020 Nature Environmental Protection 1 citations
Article Tier 2

China’s Battle against Marine Plastic Pollution at the Local Level: A Case Study of Sanya City, Hainan Province

Researchers examined local-level marine plastic pollution governance in China using Sanya City in Hainan Province as a case study, assessing regulatory approaches and enforcement mechanisms for achieving national environmental goals. The analysis found that Sanya's 'Zero Waste City' and 'Model City' designations drove innovation in plastic governance, while also revealing important weaknesses in local implementation capacity.

2023 Ocean Yearbook Online 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the EU plastic value chain: A material flow analysis

Researchers conducted a material flow analysis of the EU27 plastic value chain, finding that only 19% of plastics were recycled in 2019, with total losses amounting to 4% of production and significant variation across sectors and polymer types.

2023 Resources Conservation and Recycling 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Transforming the Plastic Industry: Global Regulatory Evolution and Sustainability Trends (2018-2024)

Researchers analyzed the evolution of plastic governance frameworks across ten major economies from 2018 to 2024, documenting regulatory milestones including single-use plastic bans and extended producer responsibility schemes and assessing progress toward sustainability goals in the global plastics industry.

2025 Technix International Journal for Engineering Research
Article Tier 2

The Evolutionary Trend and Impact of Global Plastic Waste Trade Network

Analysis of the global plastic waste trade network from 1988 to 2017 found that recent national import bans have reshaped trade flows, with waste being redirected from China to other developing nations rather than reducing overall plastic waste generation.

2021 Sustainability 71 citations