Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Integrated LCA and OPEN LCA-CML baseline analysis on environmental impact associated with the plastic packaging waste management system of Rubavu city Rwanda

Researchers used life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts of different plastic bottle waste management pathways in Rwanda, where bottles currently end up in an open dumpsite. The study identifies which waste management changes would most reduce the plastic that eventually fragments into environmental microplastics.

2021 International Journal Of Scientific Advances 1 citations
Article Tier 2

An Empirical Investigation on Plastic Waste Issues and Plastic Disposal Strategies to Protect the Environment: A UAE Perspective

An empirical investigation into plastic waste management in a developing country context found that rising volumes of plastic water bottles and single-use items are overwhelming municipal waste systems. The study documents disposal strategies used in practice and identifies infrastructure and policy gaps limiting effective plastic waste management.

2022 Sustainability 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic waste management strategies toward zero waste: Status, perspectives and recommendations for Ethiopia

This review assesses Ethiopia's plastic waste crisis, finding that excessive plastic use has worsened environmental pollution, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and public health impacts. The study recommends strategies including banning single-use plastics, improving recycling infrastructure, and developing biodegradable alternatives. While focused on Ethiopia, the findings illustrate how developing countries face growing microplastic pollution from inadequate waste management systems.

2024 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating strategies for sustainable recovery and recycling of plastic waste in the West Bank of Palestine: The perspectives of plastic companies

Researchers surveyed 30 plastic manufacturing and recycling companies in the West Bank of Palestine to assess which social, legal, technological, environmental, and economic strategies would best motivate improved plastic waste recovery, finding strong industry support for community awareness programs and legislation mandating recycling practices.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic as an written composition in bottled water: Implications for waste management

This study characterized microplastic contamination in bottled water, identifying common polymer types and particle sizes and discussing implications for waste management and the effectiveness of current filtration in bottling facilities.

2024 Waste Handling and Environmental Monitoring.
Article Tier 2

Reverse logistics at home appliance manufacturers in Europe and Poland – challenges faced by the industry

This paper examines how home appliance manufacturers in Europe and Poland are implementing reverse logistics — the process of collecting and recycling used products — in line with sustainable development and circular economy goals. Reverse logistics is a key component of reducing the plastic waste that ultimately becomes microplastic pollution.

2023 Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology Organization and Management Series
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Plastic Collection and Recycling Trends in Sri Lanka

This paper is not about microplastics; it surveys plastic waste collection and recycling infrastructure in Sri Lanka, documenting correlations between tourism, rainfall, and recycling rates for different polymer types.

2023 Recycling 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Socio-ecologies of Plastic Bottle Waste (PBW) and the Development of Ecoprenuerial Initiatives in Contemporary Nigerian Society

This study is not directly about microplastics — it examines plastic bottle waste recycling economies and entrepreneurship in Nigeria, focusing on socioeconomic factors rather than microplastic contamination or health effects.

2023 Labor & Engenho 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Combining Extended Producer Responsibility (epr) and Deposit Refund System (drs) Policy for Higher Recovery and Recycling of Plastic Bottles and Sachet Water Waste: Application of Vending Machine and Designated Return Depot Centre in Lagos, Nigeria

This study proposes combining extended producer responsibility schemes with deposit refund systems — using vending machines and designated return depots — to improve plastic bottle and sachet water recovery and recycling rates in Lagos, Nigeria, where formal waste management infrastructure is lacking.

2022 Open Journal of Environmental Research (ISSN 2734-2085) 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Life cycle assessment of single-use and reusable plastic bottles in the city of Johannesburg

A life cycle assessment compared the environmental impact of single-use and reusable PET plastic water bottles in Johannesburg, South Africa. Reusable bottles had a lower overall environmental impact when used multiple times, but manufacturing and end-of-life disposal still carry significant costs. The study provides guidance for improving plastic bottle policies in South Africa.

2021 South African Journal of Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Feasibility of Reverse Vending Machine for PET Bottle Recycling in Case of ABC Hypermarket

This is a duplicate entry for the feasibility study examining reverse vending machines for PET bottle recycling in Thailand, addressing the link between poor PET recovery and microplastic pollution in fine particulate matter. Improving plastic bottle recycling could reduce environmental microplastic loads.

2023 Current Applied Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Review: Plastic waste management strategies toward zero waste: Status, perspectives and recommendations for Ethiopia — R2/PR13

This review analyzes plastic waste management challenges in Ethiopia, finding the country faces a quadruple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and public health impacts, and recommends national strategies, a circular economy approach, and bans on single-use plastics.

2024
Article Tier 2

Life cycle assessment based optimization of scenarios of reusable glass bottles using context-specific key parameters

Researchers analyzed the environmental trade-offs of switching from single-use to reusable glass bottles, finding that reusable systems can cut both carbon emissions and microplastic pollution, but only when designed with context-specific factors like local energy sources and trip distances in mind.

2024 Cleaner Environmental Systems 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Roadmap to sustainable plastic waste management: a focused study on recycling PET for triboelectric nanogenerator production in Singapore and India

Researchers compared plastic waste recycling systems in Singapore and India to evaluate the potential for turning recycled PET plastic bottles into energy-harvesting devices, finding that each recycling cycle causes a roughly 30% drop in material performance and 65% loss in economic value, underscoring the need for stronger recycling infrastructure.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 33 citations
Article Tier 2

A Revision for the Different Reuses of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Water Bottles

This review examined different strategies for reusing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles, highlighting their significant carbon footprint and waste generation while exploring sustainable recycling and repurposing approaches to reduce plastic pollution.

2022 Sustainability 34 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

Sources of Microplastic Contamination in PET Bottled Drinking Water: A Life Cycle Perspective

This study traces the sources of microplastic contamination in PET bottled drinking water across the product life cycle, identifying raw pellet spillage during shipping, manufacturing processes, bottle filling and capping operations, and bottle reuse as successive contamination pathways.

2025 Applied and Computational Engineering
Article Tier 2

Global Bottled Water Industry: A Review of Impacts and Trends

This review assessed the global bottled water industry's environmental and social impacts, examining trends in consumption, plastic waste generation, and the implications for water resource management and sustainability.

2023 37 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effect of Different Storage Conditions for Refilled Plastic Drink Bottles on the Concentration of Microplastic Release in Water

Researchers investigated microplastic release from reused plastic water bottles under different storage conditions and timeframes, finding that bottle reuse and prolonged storage increase the concentration of microplastics released into the contained water.

2022 Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic packaging flows in Europe: A hybrid input‐output approach

Researchers modeled plastic packaging material flows across the EU using a hybrid input-output approach, mapping supply chains by polymer type, packaging form, and application category to reveal that packaging represents a major fraction of plastic consumption with significant gaps in end-of-life recycling infrastructure.

2021 Journal of Industrial Ecology 49 citations
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
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Journal of Green Economy and Low-Carbon Development
Article Tier 2

Digitally enabled business models for a circular plastic economy in Africa

Researchers explored how digital technologies are enabling circular economy business models for plastic waste management across African retailing and distribution systems. Drawing on focus group discussions and interviews with frontline organizations, the study examined the impact of digital innovations on plastic waste collection, sorting, and recycling. The findings highlight how digital tools can complement ecological goals by creating economic incentives for managing plastic waste in developing economies.

2024 Environmental Technology & Innovation 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Ensuring sustainability in plastics use in Africa: consumption, waste generation, and projections

This review examines plastic consumption, waste generation, and future projections for African nations, finding rapidly increasing plastic use alongside limited waste management infrastructure. The study calls for African-specific sustainability policies to prevent a major escalation in plastic pollution as economic development accelerates across the continent.

2019 Environmental Sciences Europe 241 citations