Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Plastics

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Handbook of Global Sustainability

Abstract

Unsustainable plastic production, use, and mismanagement dominates the growing global waste problem. Plastic waste mismanagement threatens environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Plastic waste leakage into the environment has resulted in widespread marine, freshwater, terrestrial, and atmospheric impacts globally. Plastics derived from fossil fuels account for 6% of global oil consumption resulting in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during every step of the plastic life cycle, from production to waste disposal, contributing to climate change. Plastic production, distribution, and widespread consumer demand have placed enormous pressure on Earth’s limited ecological resources. Currently, governments and industry are implementing solutions and establishing ambitious targets to reduce plastic waste and improve sustainability, yet plastic waste generation is still outpacing these new policies and regulations. As consumer awareness of pervasive plastic pollution continues to increase, so does personal motivation, government, and industry action to seek innovative solutions to redesign for end-of-life plastic packaging to reduce plastic waste and improve plastic recyclability. This chapter highlights why unsustainable global plastic production, use, and mismanagement has resulted in more than 75% of the plastic ever produced now existing as waste. This chapter also provides an outlook for innovation and alternative plastic materials to help advance national and global plastic waste management strategies for a global sustainable transition towards zero-plastic waste.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adam I, Walker TR, Bezerra JC, Clayton A (2020) Policies to reduce single-use plastic marine pollution in West Africa. Mar Policy 116:103928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen S, Allen D, Phoenix VR, Le Roux G, Jiménez PD, Simonneau A, … Galop D (2019) Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a remote mountain catchment. Nat Geosci 12(5):339–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Awoyera PO, Adesina A (2020) Plastic wastes to construction products: status, limitations and future perspective. Case Stud Construct Mater 12:e00330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont NJ, Aanesen M, Austen MC, Börger T, Clark JR, Cole M, … Wyles KJ (2019) Global ecological, social and economic impacts of marine plastic. Mar Pollut Bull 142:189–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra JC, Walker TR, Clayton CA, Adam I (2021) Single-use plastic bag policies in the Southern African Development Community. Environ Challenges 3:100029

    Google Scholar 

  • Borrelle SB, Ringma J, Law KL, Monnahan CC, Lebreton L (2020) Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution. Science 369(6510):1515–1518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks AL, Wang S, Jambeck JR (2018) The Chinese import ban and its impact on global plastic waste trade. Sci Adv 4(6):eaat0131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BRS Conventions (2019) COPs 2019 press release: governments agree landmark decisions to protect people and planet from hazardous chemicals and waste, including plastic waste, synergies among the Basel. Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. http://www.brsmeas.org/?tabid=8005

  • Clayton CA, Walker TR, Bezerra JC, Adam I (2021) Policy responses to reduce single-use plastic marine pollution in the Caribbean. Mar Pollut Bull 162:111833

    Google Scholar 

  • Conti GO, Ferrante M, Banni M, Favara C, Nicolosi I, Cristaldi A, … Zuccarello P (2020) Micro-and nano-plastics in edible fruit and vegetables The first diet risks assessment for the general population. Environ Res 187:109677

    Google Scholar 

  • da Costa JP, Mouneyrac C, Costa M, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T (2020) The role of legislation, regulatory initiatives and guidelines on the control of plastic pollution. Front Environ Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2020.00104

  • Danopoulos E, Jenner LC, Twiddy M, Rotchell JM (2020) Microplastic contamination of seafood intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Health Perspect 128(12):126002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diggle A, Walker TR (2020) Implementation of harmonized Extended Producer Responsibility strategies to incentivize recovery of single-use plastic packaging waste in Canada. Waste Manag 110:20–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duru RU, Ikpeama EE, Ibekwe JA (2019) Challenges and prospects of plastic waste management in Nigeria. Waste Disposal Sustain Energy 1(2):117–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2020) Global commitment. New Plastics Economy. https://www.newplasticseconomy.org/projects/global-commitment

  • Ellen MacArthur Foundation, ARUP, McKinsey & Company, UNCTAD (2018) The circular economy opportunity for Urban & Industrial Innovation in China

    Google Scholar 

  • Geyer R, Jambeck JR, Law KL (2017) Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Sci Adv 3(7):e1700782

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann NB, Hüffer T, Thompson RC, Hassellöv M, Verschoor A, Daugaard AE, … Wagner M (2019) Are we speaking the same language? Recommendations for a definition and categorization framework for plastic debris. Environ Sci Technol 53(3):1039–1047

    Google Scholar 

  • Häußler M, Eck M, Rothauer D, Mecking S (2021) Closed-loop recycling of polyethylene-like materials. Nature 590:423–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hundertmark T, Mayer M, McNally C, Simons TJ, Witte C (2018) How plastics waste recycling could transform the chemical industry. McKinsey & Company, 12

    Google Scholar 

  • Jambeck JR, Geyer R, Wilcox C, Siegler TR, Perryman M, Andrady A, Narayan R, Law KL (2015) Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science 347(6223):768–771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jambeck J, Hardesty BD, Brooks AL, Friend T, Teleki K, Fabres J, … Wilcox C (2018) Challenges and emerging solutions to the land-based plastic waste issue in Africa. Mar Policy 96:256–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Karbalaei S, Hanachi P, Walker TR, Cole M (2018) Occurrence, sources, human health impacts and mitigation of microplastic pollution. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25(36):36046–36063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karbalaei S, Golieskardi A, Hamzah HB, Abdulwahid S, Hanachi P, Walker TR, Karami A (2019) Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in commercial marine fish from Malaysia. Mar Pollut Bull 148:5–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitz R, Walker TR, Charlebois S, Music J (2021) Food packaging during the COVID 19 pandemic: consumer perceptions. Int J Consum Stud. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12691

  • Kumar M, Xiong X, He M, Tsang DC, Gupta J, Khan E, Harrad S, Hou D, Ok YS, Bolan NS (2020) Microplastics as pollutants in agricultural soils. Environ Pollut 265:114980

    Google Scholar 

  • Lau WW, Shiran Y, Bailey RM, Cook E, Stuchtey MR, Koskella J, … Palardy JE (2020) Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution. Science 369(6510):1455–1461

    Google Scholar 

  • Law KL, Starr N, Siegler TR, Jambeck JR, Mallos NJ, Leonard GH (2020) The United States’ contribution of plastic waste to land and ocean. Sci Adv 6(44):eabd0288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lebreton L, Andrady A (2019) Future scenarios of global plastic waste generation and disposal. Palgrave Commun 5(1):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Adams M, Walker TR (2018) Are exports of recyclables from developed to developing countries waste pollution transfer or part of the global circular economy? Resour Conserv Recycl 136:22–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Liu W, Walker TR, Adams M, Zhao J (2021) How does the global plastic waste trade contribute to environmental benefits: implication for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions? J Environ Manag 287:112283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuinty E, Walker TR (2021) Solutions, approaches and mitigation strategies for plastic waste management. In: Horton A (ed) Plastic pollution in the World’s oceans. World Scientific Press, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • PlasticsEurope (2020) Plastics – the facts 2020 an analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data. PlasticsEurope Brussels, Belgium. https://www.plasticseurope.org/download_file/force/4261/181

  • Prata JC, Silva ALP, da Costa JP, Mouneyrac C, Walker TR, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T (2019) Solutions and integrated strategies for the control and mitigation of plastic and microplastic pollution. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(13):2411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prata JC, Silva AL, Walker TR, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T (2020) COVID-19 pandemic repercussions on the use and management of plastics. Environ Sci Technol 54(13):7760–7765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmaltz E, Melvin EC, Diana Z, Gunady EF, Rittschof D, Somarelli JA, … Dunphy-Daly MM (2020) Plastic pollution solutions: emerging technologies to prevent and collect marine plastic pollution. Environ Int 144:106067

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnurr RE, Alboiu V, Chaudhary M, Corbett RA, Quanz ME, Sankar K, Srain HS, Thavarajah V, Xanthos D, Walker TR (2018) Reducing marine pollution from single-use plastics (SUPs): a review. Mar Pollut Bull 137:157–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schweitzer JP, Gionfra S, Pantzar M, Mottershead D, Watkins E, Petsinaris F, … Janssens C (2018) Unwrapped: how throwaway plastic is failing to solve Europe’s food waste problem. Institute for European Environmental Policy, Bruxelles, Belgium, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Sequeira IF, Prata JC, da Costa JP, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T (2020) Worldwide contamination of fish with microplastics: a brief global overview. Mar Pollut Bull 160:111681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva ALP, Prata JC, Walker TR, Campos D, Duarte AC, Soares AM, … Rocha-Santos T (2020) Rethinking and optimising plastic waste management under COVID-19 pandemic: policy solutions based on redesign and reduction of single-use plastics and personal protective equipment. Sci Total Environ 742:140565

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva ALP, Prata JC, Walker TR, Duarte AC, Ouyang W, Barcelò D, Rocha-Santos T (2021) Increased plastic pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and recommendations. Chem Eng J 405:126683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2018) Single-use plastics: a roadmap for sustainability. Retrieved from: https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/report/single-use-plastics-roadmap-sustainability

  • United Nations (2015) Sustainable development knowledge platform. Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

  • Wagner TP (2017) Reducing single-use plastic shopping bags in the USA. Waste Manag 70:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TR (2018) China’s ban on imported plastic waste could be a game changer. Nature 553(7689):405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TR (2021) (Micro)plastics and the UN sustainable development goals. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 100497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2021.100497

  • Walker TR, McKay DC (2021) Comment on “five misperceptions surrounding the environmental impacts of single-use plastic”. Environ Sci Technol 55(2):1339–1340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TR, Xanthos D (2018) A call for Canada to move toward zero plastic waste by reducing and recycling single-use plastics. Resour Conserv Recycl 133:99–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TR, McGuinty E, Charlebois S, Music J (2021) Single-use plastic packaging in the Canadian food industry: consumer behavior and perceptions. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 8(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00747-4

  • Wen Z, Xie Y, Chen M, Dinga CD (2021) China’s plastic import ban increases prospects of environmental impact mitigation of plastic waste trade flow worldwide. Nat Commun 12(1):1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Economic Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, McKinsey & Company (2016) The new plastics economy–rethinking the future of plastics. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications

  • Worm B, Lotze HK, Jubinville I, Wilcox C, Jambeck J (2017) Plastic as a persistent marine pollutant. Annu Rev Environ Resour 42:1–26. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-102016-060700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xanthos D, Walker TR (2017) International policies to reduce plastic marine pollution from single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads): a review. Mar Pollut Bull 118(1–2):17–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu X (2021) The plastic cycle–an unknown branch of the carbon cycle. Front Mar Sci 7:609243. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.609243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zink T, Geyer R (2017) Circular economy rebound. J Ind Ecol 21(3):593–602. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12545

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Tony R. Walker & Eamonn McGuinty

Authors
  1. Tony R. Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eamonn McGuinty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tony R. Walker .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Walker, T.R., McGuinty, E. (2021). Plastics. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Global Sustainability. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38948-2_55-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38948-2_55-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-38948-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-38948-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation