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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The Effect of Innovation on Plastic Packaging Waste Generation in the European Union: Does Economic Growth Matter?
ClearRethinking plastic recycling: A comparison between North America and Europe
Researchers compared plastic recycling rates and infrastructure between North America and the European Union, arguing that higher EU landfill and incineration costs create economic incentives for recycling that have driven greater industrial innovation and cleaner polymer streams — while both regions continue to rely on opaque offshore export as a de facto disposal method.
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.
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.
The Circular Economy in EU Policy as a Response to Contemporary Ecological Challenges
This article reviews how EU countries are implementing circular economy policies and progress toward reducing plastic waste, finding large variation across member states. Shifting from linear to circular plastic economies is critical for reducing the production of waste that generates microplastics.
Different but the Same? Comparing Drivers and Barriers for Circular Economy Innovation Systems in Wood- and Plastic-Based Industries
Researchers compared the drivers and barriers for circular economy innovation systems in wood-based and plastic-based industries, examining how strategies such as reduce, reuse, and recycle can decouple resource use from economic growth and whether lessons from one sector can transfer to the other.
Evaluating the Parameters Influencing Plastic Recycling
Researchers examined factors influencing plastic recycling rates — including GDP, education, pricing, and cultural attitudes — finding price to be the predominant factor, with a linear regression model confirming the relationship between cost and recycling behavior.
The rate of use of the Circular Economy in individual sectors
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper reviews the adoption of circular economy principles across industrial sectors within the European Union policy framework, without specific focus on plastic pollution.
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.
Socio-economic Importance of Biomaterials in the Transition to the Circular Economy Model
Researchers examined the socio-economic role of biomaterials in transitioning economies toward the circular economy model, finding that substituting conventional plastics with bio-based materials can reduce waste accumulation while meeting EU sustainable development targets for 2030.
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.
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.
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.
Enhanced plastic economy: a perspective and a call for international action
This perspective argues that the current plastic circular economy is too narrowly focused on recycling, reuse, and energy recovery, and calls for an enhanced framework that prioritizes innovation and coordinated international action to reduce plastic pollution. A broader approach targeting all lifecycle stages is proposed.
Investigating the Role of Tourists and Impact of Knowledge, Behaviour, and Attitude Towards Plastic Waste Generation
Researchers surveyed tourists to assess how their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior influence plastic waste generation at outdoor recreation sites, finding that awareness gaps drive littering and that circular economy approaches could convert tourist-generated waste into local economic opportunity.
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.
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.
The Commitment of Packaging Industry in the Framework of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy
This paper reviews how the European packaging industry is responding to the EU's plastics strategy and circular economy goals, outlining commitments to increase recyclability, recycled content, and reduce single-use plastic items. It provides context for understanding how industry-level policy shapes the generation and management of plastic waste that ultimately contributes to microplastic pollution.
Economia circulară și recuperarea deșeurilor din plastic prin reciclare în Moldova
This paper examines plastic waste management and circular economy challenges in the Republic of Moldova, a country with low recycling rates and significant environmental contamination from inadequate waste infrastructure. The analysis identifies barriers to improving plastic recovery and highlights the intersection of economic development with environmental sustainability.
European Circular Economy Policy-Making in Sustainability and Resource Management Development
This study analyzed the development of circular economy policy across EU countries using circularity indicators, finding that high circularity scores do not necessarily correlate with lower environmental impact. The EU as a whole consumes the majority of global materials and generates 43% of emissions, highlighting gaps between circularity metrics and actual sustainability.
Toxic growth in the circular economy: is the EU Plastics Strategy a bad policy?
Researchers traced the relational history of the European Commission's Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, examining whether this flagship plastics governance policy effectively addresses the growing global plastics problem. They argued that the strategy's circular economy framing may perpetuate 'toxic growth' by prioritizing recycling and reuse over fundamental production reduction, raising questions about the policy's adequacy as a response to plastic pollution.
A Comparative Bibliometric Analysis on Plastic Waste Recycling
This bibliometric study maps ten years of global research on plastic waste recycling and circular economy using Scopus and Web of Science, identifying dominant themes, leading countries, and emerging directions. It is primarily a research-landscape analysis with minimal direct content on microplastic formation or health risks, making it only peripheral to microplastic science.
The road to sustainable use and waste management of plastics in Portugal
Researchers assessed Portugal's plastic production, consumption, waste management, and beach litter levels relative to EU targets, finding that current recycling rates (34%) fall below EU averages (42%) and recommending expanded pyrolysis, gasification, and single-use plastic regulations as near-term complements to improved recycling infrastructure.
Mapping the Plastic Waste Research Landscape: A bibliometric analysis of the interdisciplinary nature of plastic waste research
A bibliometric analysis of 2,735 papers on plastic waste published between 2011 and 2022 found that India and China were the most productive countries in this research field. The analysis identifies research networks, trends, and gaps to guide future work and policymakers.
The impact of policy interactions on the recycling of plastic packaging waste in Germany
This policy analysis examined how interactions between different regulations affect plastic packaging recycling rates in Germany, finding that different waste directives can sometimes work at cross-purposes. The study contributes to understanding how to design more effective policies for reducing plastic waste.