Papers

20 results
|
Review Tier 2

Politics and the plastic crisis: A review throughout the plastic life cycle

This political science review analyzed over 180 studies on the governance of plastics across their full life cycle, finding that marine pollution and microplastics are driving the fastest growth in plastic policy research. The authors identify fragmented governance architectures and the absence of binding international agreements as major obstacles to addressing the global plastic crisis.

2019 Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Energy and Environment 466 citations
Article Tier 2

What influences public support for plastic waste control policies and green consumption? Evidence from a multilevel analysis of survey data from 27 European countries

This multi-country survey across 27 European nations found that media use and country-level factors shape citizens' support for plastic waste policy and green consumption. People who consumed environmental news from diverse media sources were more likely to support plastic reduction policies and adopt green behaviors. The findings have implications for designing effective public communication strategies about plastic pollution.

2023 Online Media and Global Communication 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate

This review analyzed 39 peer-reviewed studies on public perceptions of plastic pollution, finding that research discourse is narrowly focused on marine impacts and single-use plastics while largely ignoring broader plastic pollution contexts relevant to international treaty negotiations.

2023 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Motives of Environmental Coverages by North European Mass Media: The Role of Three Nordic Countries on Combating Plastic Waste

This study examines why Nordic mass media (Norway, Denmark, Sweden) give strong coverage to environmental issues including plastic waste, finding that geographic proximity to the sea and economic dependence on marine resources motivate media attention, which in turn influences government environmental policy. The paper focuses on media sociology and environmental communication with no direct relevance to microplastic research.

2023 RSF Conference Series Business Management and Social Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Pro-Environmental Behaviour of Two Norway's Mainstream Mass Media

Researchers analyzed how two mainstream Norwegian mass media outlets address plastic waste issues in the Nordic region, examining their pro-environmental framing, stakeholder engagement strategies, and the constraints they face in driving government, NGO, and public action on plastic waste management.

2024 Journal of Strategic and Global Studies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Media Issue Crystallization: The Case of Microplastic in Denmark

This study examined how Danish news media constructed and framed microplastic pollution as an emerging environmental issue, analyzing the process by which a complex scientific problem becomes a public concern. Media framing of microplastics influences public awareness and political action on plastic pollution.

2021 Environmental Communication 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The influence of media narratives on microplastics risk perception

Researchers examined how media narratives about microplastic pollution influence public risk perception. The study argues that accurate and balanced reporting is essential to prevent misinformation and ensure people clearly understand the risks associated with microplastics. The findings suggest that understanding public perceptions can help design better interventions to reduce plastic consumption and its associated health and environmental impacts.

2023 PeerJ 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Framing for action? Assessing microplastic-related threat potential for planetary health as a political participation catalyzer

This study analyzed how microplastic-related threats to planetary health are communicated as a political issue, finding that framing microplastics as a systemic health risk increases public concern and may serve as a catalyst for environmental policy action.

2024
Article Tier 2

Telling stories about (micro)plastic pollution: Media images, public perceptions and social change

This paper examines how microplastic pollution has been framed in media reporting and how the public understands the issue, finding that culturally embedded ideas about risk and health shape people's responses. Understanding media framing and public perception is important for designing effective communication strategies around microplastic contamination.

2018
Article Tier 2

Next steps for research on society and microplastics

This perspective paper outlined priority directions for social and behavioral science research on microplastics, building on the established contributions of social sciences to understanding policy, stakeholder views, and public behavior around plastic pollution. The authors called for greater integration of social science methods to address governance gaps and support effective microplastic management.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Review: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R0/PR3

A review of 39 studies on public perceptions of plastic pollution found that research has clustered around marine ecosystems, single-use plastics, and recycling barriers, while underexploring systemic production reduction and connections to climate change or broader biodiversity loss. The paper emphasizes that terminology choices — 'marine debris' vs. 'microplastics' vs. 'plastic pollution' — frame public understanding differently and should inform policy communications.

2023
Review Tier 2

From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution

This review examined why high public awareness of plastic pollution has not led to meaningful action. Researchers found that people tend to focus on visible pollution like bottles and bags while overlooking less obvious sources such as microplastics from clothing and tires. The study concludes that bridging the awareness-to-action gap requires strategies that address specific behavioral barriers including convenience, cost, and distrust in recycling systems.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Review Tier 2

From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution

This review examined why public awareness of plastic pollution has not translated into meaningful behavioral change. The study found that most people focus on visible plastic waste like bottles and bags but have limited understanding of sources like microplastics from clothing and tires, with key barriers to action including convenience, cost, social norms, and distrust in recycling systems.

2026 International Journal of Science and Research Archive
Article Tier 2

Fasting Plastic—The Role of Media Reports in a ‘Window of Opportunity’ to Reduce Plastic Consumption

This study examined how media coverage of prominent figures reducing plastic consumption can influence public behavior through role model effects, finding that targeted media moments can create windows of opportunity for behavior change. Media campaigns and public role models may be effective tools for reducing plastic consumption at scale.

2021 Sustainability 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Public Attention Formation in the "Diet Kantong Plastik" Social Movement

This qualitative study examines how Indonesia's Plastic Bag Diet Movement used social media to build public attention for reducing plastic use, finding that consistent, informative messaging and strategic timing helped grow the campaign's reach. The research suggests that digital advocacy can effectively raise environmental awareness but must also close the gap between awareness and individual action.

2021 Ultimacomm 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Twitter data analysis to assess the interest of citizens on the impact of marine plastic pollution

Analysis of approximately 140,000 tweets about marine plastic pollution found that public engagement peaked in response to high-profile events like media reports and plastic ban announcements, with most activity from non-expert users sharing alarming content, while scientific accounts generated less engagement, suggesting that science communication strategies need rethinking.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Policy priorities: emerging trends in a global response

This policy review examines global regulatory responses to plastic and microplastic pollution, identifying focal areas, gaps, and future directions by drawing parallels to historical policy development around air pollution management.

2024 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward Plastic Pollution among Malaysians: Implications for Minimizing Plastic Use and Pollution

Researchers surveyed Malaysians about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding plastic pollution. The study found that while most people were aware of plastic pollution problems, there was a significant gap between awareness and actual behavior change. The findings suggest that education campaigns alone are insufficient and need to be paired with practical infrastructure and policy changes to reduce plastic use.

2023 Sustainability 35 citations
Review Tier 2

From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution

This review examined why public awareness of plastic pollution has not translated into meaningful behavior change. Researchers found that most people focus on visible plastic items like bottles and bags but have limited knowledge about microplastics from clothing or tires. Key barriers to action include convenience, cost, social norms, and distrust in recycling systems, suggesting that education alone is insufficient without strategies targeting specific behavioral changes.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Review: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R0/PR2

This review analyzes 39 peer-reviewed studies on public perceptions of plastic pollution, finding that debate is largely focused on marine environments and single-use plastics. The review notes gaps in public awareness of microplastics' health effects and calls for better communication to inform policy negotiations.

2023