Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution
Lau, Winnie W. Y.; Shiran, Yonathan; Bailey, Richard M.; Cook, Ed; Stuchtey, Martin R.; Koskella, Julia; Velis, Costas A.; Godfrey, Linda; Boucher, Julien; Murphy, Margaret B.; Thompson, Richard C.; Jankowska, Emilia; Castillo, Arturo Castillo; Pilditch, Toby D.; Dixon, Ben; Koerselman, Laura; Kosior, Edward; Favoino, Enzo; Gutberlet, Jutta; Baulch, Sarah; Atreya, Meera E.; Fischer, David; He, Kevin K.; Petit, Milan M.; Sumaila, U. Rashid; Neil, Emily; Bernhofen, Mark V.; Lawrence, Keith; Palardy, James E.
2020
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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.

Details

Title
Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution
Author(s)
Lau, Winnie W. Y. (The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, USA)
Shiran, Yonathan (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK)
Bailey, Richard M. (Oxford University, UK)
Cook, Ed (University of Leeds, UK)
Stuchtey, Martin R. (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK; University of Innsbruck, Austria)
Koskella, Julia (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK)
Velis, Costas A. (University of Leeds, UK)
Godfrey, Linda (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa)
Boucher, Julien (Haute école d’ingénierie et de gestion du canton de Vaud, HES-SO Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale; EA, Switzerland)
Murphy, Margaret B. (The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, USA)
Thompson, Richard C. (University of Plymouth, UK)
Jankowska, Emilia (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK)
Castillo, Arturo Castillo (Imperial College London, London, UK)
Pilditch, Toby D. (Oxford University, UK)
Dixon, Ben (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK)
Koerselman, Laura (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK)
Kosior, Edward (Nextek, London, UK)
Favoino, Enzo (Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza, Italy)
Gutberlet, Jutta (University of Victoria, Canada)
Baulch, Sarah (The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, USA)
Atreya, Meera E. (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK)
Fischer, David (SYSTEMIQ,, London, UK)
He, Kevin K. (The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, USA)
Petit, Milan M. (SYSTEMIQ, London, UK)
Sumaila, U. Rashid (University of British Colombia, Vancouver, Canada)
Neil, Emily (Oxford University, UK)
Bernhofen, Mark V. (University of Leeds, UK)
Lawrence, Keith (The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, USA)
Palardy, James E. (The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, USA)
Date
2020-07
Published in
Science
Volume
2020, vol. 369, pp. 1455-1461
Pagination
12 p.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba9475
ISSN
0036-8075
Article Type
scientifique
Faculty
Economie et Services
School
HEIG-VD
Institute
IIDE - Institut Interdisciplinaire du Développement de l'Entreprise
Record Appears in
Scientific Articles
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