We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Enhanced plastic economy: a perspective and a call for international action
ClearWhy the “New Plastics Economy” must be a circular economy
This commentary argues that the 'New Plastics Economy' framework promoted by industry must incorporate genuine circular economy principles — reducing plastic production and ensuring materials are actually recovered and reused — rather than simply shifting responsibility downstream.
System innovation and life cycle thinking in packaging value chain: the circularity of plastics.
This paper examines the role of circular economy principles in reducing plastic packaging waste, noting that despite existing recycling systems, plastics remain pervasive environmental contaminants. The authors argue that redesigning packaging systems for recyclability and reducing over-packaging are essential steps to address microplastic pollution at its source.
Circular economy measures to keep plastics and their value in the economy, avoid waste and reduce marine litter
This review argues that circular economy measures — including improved collection, reuse, recycling, and design for end-of-life — are necessary to keep plastic value in the economy while reducing the estimated 5-15 million tonnes of plastic entering oceans annually. Researchers present a framework of policy and industry measures to transition away from the current linear 'make-use-dispose' model that drives marine litter accumulation.
Circular economy measures to keep plastics and their value in the economy, avoid waste and reduce marine litter
This policy-oriented paper examines how circular economy measures — including improved collection, reuse, and recycling of plastics — can reduce marine litter and keep plastic materials and their economic value in the economy rather than allowing them to leak into marine environments.
Plastic Waste Recycling is Insufficient to Mitigate Plastic Pollution: the Need for a Paradigm Shift
This review argues that plastic waste recycling is fundamentally insufficient to address global plastic pollution and calls for a paradigm shift away from end-of-pipe solutions toward upstream production reduction. The authors examine the structural limitations of current recycling strategies and the economic and policy barriers that prevent meaningful plastic pollution mitigation.
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates a shift to a plastic circular economy
Researchers argue that the COVID-19 pandemic's surge in single-use plastic demand exposes deep flaws in linear plastic waste management, calling for coordinated action by governments, industry, and researchers to shift toward circular economy principles including intelligent design and sustainable upcycling of plastics.
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.
Chemistry and materials science for a sustainable circular polymeric economy
Researchers reflected on the fundamental chemistry challenges limiting a circular plastic economy — including the sheer variety of polymer types, contamination during use, and imperfect recycling — and argued that solving plastic pollution requires both chemical innovation and systemic non-chemical interventions.
Accelerating Plastic Circularity: A Critical Assessment of the Pathways and Processes to Circular Plastics
A critical assessment of plastic circularity pathways found that today only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled, with current circularity routes economically unviable, and argues that improving product design and collection and sorting system effectiveness are the most impactful levers for progress.
Global Material Flow of Macro‐ and Microplastics to Support a Circular Economy
Researchers developed a global material flow analysis of macro- and microplastics to identify where intervention efforts can best support a circular economy. The study found that current plastic waste reduction initiatives are often misaligned with the most impactful leverage points in the plastic material cycle.
A Circular Economy of Plastics: A vision of redesigning plastics value chains
This discussion paper outlines a vision for a circular plastics economy in which plastics are designed for reuse, recycling, and bio-based feedstocks rather than single use and disposal. A true circular economy for plastics would dramatically reduce the amount that fragments into microplastics in the environment.
Transforming the Global Plastics Economy: The Role of Economic Policies in the Global Governance of Plastic Pollution
This paper argues that addressing plastic pollution requires looking beyond waste management and marine cleanup to tackle the problem at its source, across the entire plastics life cycle including production, trade, and consumption. The authors trace how international policy discussions have evolved from voluntary approaches to regulatory frameworks, with over 100 governments calling for a new global plastics agreement. The research highlights the need for economic policies that address upstream production alongside downstream pollution.
The Frontier of Plastics Recycling: Rethinking Waste as a Resource for High‐Value Applications
This review examines the current state and future prospects of plastics recycling within a circular economy framework, arguing that mechanical recycling alone is insufficient and that chemical recycling, design-for-recyclability, and extended producer responsibility must all be scaled simultaneously. The authors identify high-value applications for recycled plastics as essential incentives for building economically sustainable recycling systems.
A multidisciplinary perspective on the role of plastic pollution in the triple planetary crisis.
This perspective paper argues that plastics are a central driver of all three dimensions of the planetary crisis — pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss — and must be addressed with the same urgency as carbon emissions. The authors call for a multidisciplinary approach that recognizes plastics as a systemic environmental threat rather than a siloed waste management issue.
A transdisciplinary approach to reducing global plastic pollution
This opinion piece advocates for a transdisciplinary approach to reducing global plastic pollution, emphasizing the need to integrate natural science, social science, governance, and industry perspectives to develop effective and equitable solutions to the plastic pollution crisis.
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.
Circular Plastics Economy: Redesigning Technology and Reimagining Society
This book examines the concept of a circular plastics economy, arguing that technical redesign of materials must be paired with societal transformation to address plastic waste at scale. The authors critique current approaches and propose a more integrated vision combining innovation with behavioral and governance change.
Perspective article: Multisectoral considerations to enable a circular economy for plastics
Researchers from the P-LEACH project explored how UV-weathered plastics release harmful chemicals and micro- and nanoplastics into water, and proposed a circular economy framework to address plastic pollution. They recommend simplifying the chemicals used in plastic production, designing products for recyclability, and fostering open dialogue between scientists, manufacturers, and regulators. The study underscores that tackling plastic pollution requires coordinated action across multiple sectors of society.
Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy
This review examines strategies for recovering and utilizing ocean plastic waste within a green economy framework, covering collection technologies, recycling pathways, and circular economy approaches to transform marine plastic pollution into valuable resources.
An Examination of Microplastics: Environmental Impact, Sustainability, and Recyclability Innovation
This paper examined the environmental impact of microplastics, sustainability implications of current plastic use, and recycling options to address the plastic pollution crisis. It called for a transition toward circular economy approaches that reduce primary plastic production and increase recycled content.
Expanding plastics recycling technologies: chemical aspects, technology status and challenges
This review examined the full life cycle of plastics and evaluated options for managing plastic waste, with a focus on chemical recycling technologies. The study suggests that overcoming barriers to industrial chemical recycling could open new opportunities for reducing plastic pollution.
Global Plastic Pollution and the Transition Towards a Circular Economy: Lessons from the EU’s Legal Framework on Plastics
This paper reviews the EU legal framework on plastics and the transition toward a circular economy, examining how regulatory instruments including the Single-Use Plastics Directive and extended producer responsibility schemes can reduce the billions of tons of plastic waste generated annually.
Towards a circular economy that begins and ends in nature
This policy paper argues that a truly circular economy must be designed with nature in mind, ensuring that economic activity restores rather than degrades biodiversity, including addressing plastic pollution as a key concern.
Solving the Plastics Crisis in New Zealand: The need for domestic regulation as well as a global treaty
This review examines New Zealand's current plastic pollution regulations and finds them insufficient to address the plastics crisis, arguing that an effective solution requires a circular economy approach regulating the entire plastic lifecycle — from upstream production and design to downstream recycling and biodegradation — supported by both domestic legislation and a binding global treaty.