@article{Lau:5725, recid = {5725}, author = {Lau, Winnie W. Y. and Shiran, Yonathan and Bailey, Richard M. and Cook, Ed and Stuchtey, Martin R. and Koskella, Julia and Velis, Costas A. and Godfrey, Linda and Boucher, Julien and Murphy, Margaret B. and Thompson, Richard C. and Jankowska, Emilia and Castillo, Arturo Castillo and Pilditch, Toby D. and Dixon, Ben and Koerselman, Laura and Kosior, Edward and Favoino, Enzo and Gutberlet, Jutta and Baulch, Sarah and Atreya, Meera E. and Fischer, David and He, Kevin K. and Petit, Milan M. and Sumaila, U. Rashid and Neil, Emily and Bernhofen, Mark V. and Lawrence, Keith and Palardy, James E.}, title = {Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution}, journal = {Science}, address = {2020-07}, number = {ARTICLE}, pages = {12 p.}, abstract = {Plastic pollution is a pervasive and growing problem. To estimate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce plastic pollution, we modeled stocks and flows of municipal solid waste and four sources of microplastics through the global plastic system for five scenarios between 2016 and 2040. Implementing all feasible interventions reduced plastic pollution by 40% from 2016 rates and 78% relative to ‘business as usual’ in 2040. Even with immediate and concerted action, 710 million metric tons of plastic waste cumulatively entered aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. To avoid a massive build-up of plastic in the environment, coordinated global action is urgently needed to reduce plastic consumption, increase rates of reuse, waste collection and recycling, expand safe disposal systems and accelerate innovation in the plastic value chain.}, url = {http://arodes.hes-so.ch/record/5725}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba9475}, }