Journal articles on the topic 'Single-use plastic items'
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1
Herberz, Timo, Claire Y. Barlow, and Matthias Finkbeiner. "Sustainability Assessment of a Single-Use Plastics Ban." Sustainability 12, no. 9 (May 5, 2020): 3746. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12093746.
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Governments around the world are introducing single-use plastics bans to alleviate plastic marine pollution. This paper investigates whether banning single-use plastic items is an appropriate strategy to protect the environment. Product life cycle assessment was conducted for single-use plastic and single-use non-plastic alternatives. The life cycle impacts of the two product categories were compared and scaled according to EU consumption of 2016. The results show that a single-use plastics ban would decrease plastic marine pollution in the EU by 5.5% which equates to a 0.06% decrease globally. However, such a ban would increase emissions contributing to marine aquatic toxicity in the EU by 1.4%. This paper concludes that single-use items are harmful to the environment regardless of their material. Therefore, banning or imposing a premium price on single-use items in general and not only single-use plastic items is a more effective method of reducing consumption and thereby pollution. The plastics ban only leads to a small reduction of global plastic marine pollution and thus provides only a partial solution to the problem it intends to solve.
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Di Paolo, Luca, Simona Abbate, Eliseo Celani, Davide Di Battista, and Giovanni Candeloro. "Carbon Footprint of Single-Use Plastic Items and Their Substitution." Sustainability 14, no. 24 (December 10, 2022): 16563. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su142416563.
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Single-use plastic is having a significant environmental impact and its reduction is a mandatory step to reduce plastic pollution worldwide. Indeed, the time that a plastic item can persist in the environment is very long and it is well known that it can produce devastating effects in particular in seas and oceans. Moreover, production, use and disposal of plastic items have a significant impact also on the greenhouse effect; this can be estimated in a life cycle approach, by evaluating their carbon footprint. In this work, a review of the carbon footprint evaluation of different single-use plastic categories has been carried out, developing a methodology to immediately evaluate the benefits related to their substitution with compostable and bio-plastic and/or multiple-use items and materials. The result of the novel methodology developed is a certain number of matrixes, which can categorize impact values in order to compare them with replacement with bio-based plastic materials or multi-use things. Finally, the methodology was tested and validated through a case study, where a plastic reduction plan was proposed and implemented and the CO2 equivalent reduction was assessed, demonstrating a reduction potential related to a replacement by bioplastic or other materials equal, respectively, to 73% and 90%.
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Baechler, Britta R., Elise F. Granek, Kerry A. Carlin-Morgan, Tina E. Smith, and Max Nielsen-Pincus. "Aquarium Visitor Engagement with an Ocean Plastics Exhibit: Effects on Self-Reported Intended Single-Use Plastic Reductions and Plastic-Related Environmental Stewardship Actions." Journal of Interpretation Research 25, no. 2 (November 2020): 88–117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10925872211021183.
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Plastic pollution requires, among a suite of other interventions, education to inspire behavioral change and reduce consumption of single-use items. We designed and installed an ocean plastics exhibit at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon, USA. We evaluated visitor engagement and the effects of the exhibit on their reported single-use plastic and plastic-related environmental stewardship intentions. Timed interaction observations ( n = 317) revealed children (0–17 years) engaged more with interactive elements than adults (18–80+ years). Ten single-use plastic reduction and plastic stewardship intentions were evaluated through structured questionnaires; the top three behaviors visitors intended to change were: using a reusable straw (37.4%), cleaning the beach (37.4%), and bring-your-own bag to the store or market (33.0%). 18 to 29 year olds had the highest change in desire to address the ocean plastics problem before and after seeing the exhibit, but the lowest likelihood of engaging in either single-use plastics reduction or plastic stewardship actions of all age groups.
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Genon, Jamaica, Jessa Mabunay, James Opsima, Rochelle Zamora, Jay Repaso, and John Michael Villagorda Sasan. "Solutions and Strategies to Reduce Damaging Impact of Single-Use Plastic Bag in Toledo City." Amalee: Indonesian Journal of Community Research and Engagement 3, no. 1 (March 19, 2022): 59–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.37680/amalee.v3i1.1304.
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The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of residents' personal concerns about improper plastic disposal and to give voice to their thoughts about the Toledo City Government's prospective ideas and approaches for minimizing the city's plastic pollution. Residents of Magdugo, Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines, have been subjected to increasing levels of plastic pollution. The vast number of discarded plastic items that eventually end up in canals, drainage systems, and city streets, generating flooding that poses a severe challenge in agriculture, health, and sanitation. According to the findings, the city's inefficient waste management system has resulted in a massive accumulation of durable plastics. Toledo City, on the other hand, has improved waste management, restored cleanliness, and minimized the environmental effect of plastics through regulatory initiatives. The majority of citizens in Toledo City have enthusiastically embraced the city's ordinance prohibiting the use of plastic bags. Plastic bag littering has been shown to decrease throughout the city, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment. The city's achievement might serve as a model for other places that have yet to abolish plastic bags. As a result of a cleaner and healthier environment, people have become more productive, and tourists have returned to the city, contributing to the city's economic growth. Policy management in the reduction of plastic pollution.
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Khanal, Ashish. "Survey on usage of single use plastic bags in Nepal." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1057, no. 1 (August 1, 2022): 012008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1057/1/012008.
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Abstract The rapid urbanization and economic growth have caused increase of plastic products globally. The least developed countries (LDCs) have been facing severe problems with solid waste due to lack of people’s awareness, lack of skilled manpower to handle waste and necessary equipment to manage in sustainable manner. Nepal, a LDC in South Asia, lacks source segregation leading the maximum plastic items reaching to the landfill site. It is even difficult for the planning authorities to make effective plans for sustainable management of plastic waste due to lack of waste generation data. Nepal has made many rules and directives to ban plastic bags till date but has failed in its implementation. This study is the first of its kind to capture the perception of youths towards single use bags in Nepal. This study was conducted among 569 Nepalese youths of age between 18-40 years. A closed ended self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the respondents and responses were collected for three weeks. The questionnaire was prepared using google form and distributed via Facebook. A snowball method was used where the respondents were asked to share the questionnaire in their network. It was found that majority of Nepalese youths have been practicing the source segregation at their houses. The use of single use plastic is very common in Nepal with an individual using at least 208 plastic bags in a year. The gender and source segregation of waste was statistically significant with p-value of 0.02 (<0.05). The main reason of using plastic bags was its easy availability. There is lack of alterative to the plastic bags in Nepal. However, the youths are ready to support the government plastic ban policy and have asked the alternatives to the plastic bags. The result has shown that the Nepalese people have negative perception towards single use plastics and are in search of alternatives. The government need to implement heavy penalty for producing plastic bags greater than 30 micron and deploy tax with shop keepers and customer if found using it.
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Baccar Chaabane, Amina, Esther Robbe, Gerald Schernewski, and Hendrik Schubert. "Decomposition Behavior of Biodegradable and Single-Use Tableware Items in the Warnow Estuary (Baltic Sea)." Sustainability 14, no. 5 (February 22, 2022): 2544. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14052544.
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Due to the increasing demand for alternative and supposedly more sustainable single-use tableware compared to conventional fossil-based plastic items, there now exists a broad variety of innovative new bio-based and biodegradable items. The aim of this research is to conduct a monitoring of the biodegradability of selected tableware items: polylactic acid (PLA), crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA), wood, palm leaf, paper/cellulose and sugar cane bagasse, as well as a common fossil-based plastic polystyrene (PS) as a comparative material in a water column, to determine their possible use as a substitute for single-use plastic flatware. In situ experiments were performed over a one-year period to consider changes in water temperature, salinity gradients, pH values and dissolved oxygen (DO). The main findings show that tableware items composed of palm leaf, sugar cane bagasse and paper are less resistant to estuary conditions. However, wood, PLA, CPLA and PS items showed a certain resistance during the experimentation period. Furthermore, items placed in the upper incubators degraded relatively faster than those of the same material but placed in the lower incubators. The results indicate that temperature and exposure to natural light could be an important factor in terms of accelerating the degradation of the materials considered.
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K.P, Hasna, and Muhammadali Jauhar. "A REVIEW ON PREVALENCEOF BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC IN CURRENT LIFE." International Journal of Advanced Research 10, no. 09 (September 30, 2022): 09–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/ijar01/15315.
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Plastics have become an integral part of our lives. The problem of conventional plastics istaking decades to degrade in nature. Plastic waste is increasing every year and the precise time needed for biodegradation is unknown. Environmental awareness has driven the development of new biodegradable materials, especially for single use plastic items. Synthetic plastics provide a range of utilities in the civilization of mankind, at the same time the accumulation of these nonbiodegradable plastic in the environment is a menacing drawback increasing day by day. So thatthe management of plastic waste is a worldwide concern and also a substitute for plastic has become essential to us.
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Louro, Patrícia, and Carlos Antunes. "AWARENESS ACTIONS TO REDUCE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS FROM LAND, BASED SOURCES INTO RIVERS AND OCEANS, IN MINHO RIVER." ENVIRONMENTAL SMOKE, Special Issue (March 31, 2022): 54–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke/xibesymp.9.
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There is an imperative need to reduce disposable plastics and enhance the value of plastic waste. Stakeholders from the HORECA network and the general public participated in 11 awareness actions at Minho river, riverbanks, and at Caminha beach. The aim of these actions was to raise awareness about plastic reduction from land-based sources into the oceans, especially single-use plastics. Over 4.300 plastics were collected and organized in a TOP 5 of predominance: Fragments (< 2,5 cm); Cigarette butts; Fragments (> 2,5 cm); Cotton buds; Bio filters pieces. A digital pedagogical “Collection Litter 365” was created with photographs of waste removed from the aquatic environment and art works that used it as raw material for the artistic process. Simultaneously, 42 restaurants, cafes, hotels and accommodation establishments were surveyed and motivated to eliminate or minimize the use of disposable plastics and improve it's separation for recycling. Plastic water bottles (43%), plastic straws (40%) and plastic bags with handles (26%) were the most decreased items. Plastic separation for recycling reached 29%. Art works were exhibited in Minho river, at the Art Biennale of Cerveira and disseminated via digital communication. These actions were performed during LowPlast Project, promoted by Aquamuseu do rio Minho - Vila Nova de Cerveira Municipality, in partnership with the Portuguese Marine Litter Association, the Foundation Biennale of Art of Cerveira and the Interdisciplinary Art Institute - DTK, in Norway, and financed by EEA Grants. https://aquamuseu.cm-vncerveira.pt/pages/893.
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Jamaica Genon, Jessa Mabunay, James Opsima, Rochelle Zamora, Jay Repaso, and John Michael Villagorda Sasan. "Exploring The Alternative Solutions and Strategies of Toledo City Government for The Damaging Impact of Single-Use Plastic Bag in the Environment." International Journal of Education and Humanities 1, no. 4 (February 18, 2022): 213–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.58557/ijeh.v1i4.39.
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The object of research: The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of residents' personal concerns about improper plastic disposal and to give voice to their thoughts about the Toledo City Government's prospective ideas and approaches for minimizing the city's plastic pollution.Investigated problem: Residents of Magdugo, Toledo City have been subjected to increasing levels of plastic pollution. The vast number of discarded plastic items that eventually end up in canals, drainage systems, and city streets, generating flooding that poses a severe challenge in agriculture, health, and sanitation. The main scientific results: According to the findings, the city's inefficient waste management system has resulted in a massive accumulation of durable plastics. Toledo City, on the other hand, has improved waste management, restored cleanliness, and minimized the environmental effect of plastics through regulatory initiatives. The area of practical use of the research results: The majority of citizens in Toledo City have enthusiastically embraced the city's ordinance prohibiting the use of plastic bags. Plastic bag littering has been shown to decrease throughout the city, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment. The city's achievement might serve as a model for other places that have yet to abolish plastic bags. Innovative technological product: As a result of a cleaner and healthier environment, people have become more productive, and tourists have returned to the city, contributing to the city's economic growth. Scope of the innovative technological product: Policy management in the reduction of plastic pollution
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Genon, Jamaica, Jessa Mabunay, James Opsima, Rochelle Zamora, Jay Repaso, and John Michael Sasan. "Exploring the alternative solutions and strategies of toledo city government for the damaging impact of single-use plastic bag in the environment." ScienceRise, no. 1 (February 28, 2022): 3–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.21303/2313-8416.2022.002148.
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The object of research: The aim of this research is to gain a better understanding of residents' personal concerns about improper plastic disposal and to give voice to their thoughts about the Toledo City Government's prospective ideas and approaches for minimizing the city's plastic pollution.
Investigated problem: Residents of Magdugo, Toledo City have been subjected to increasing levels of plastic pollution. The vast number of discarded plastic items that eventually end up in canals, drainage systems, and city streets, generating flooding that poses a severe challenge in agriculture, health, and sanitation.
The main scientific results: According to the findings, the city's inefficient waste management system has resulted in a massive accumulation of durable plastics. Toledo City, on the other hand, has improved waste management, restored cleanliness, and minimized the environmental effect of plastics through regulatory initiatives.
The area of practical use of the research results: The majority of citizens in Toledo City have enthusiastically embraced the city's ordinance prohibiting the use of plastic bags. Plastic bag littering has been shown to decrease throughout the city, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment. The city's achievement might serve as a model for other places that have yet to abolish plastic bags.
Innovative technological product: As a result of a cleaner and healthier environment, people have become more productive, and tourists have returned to the city, contributing to the city's economic growth.
Scope of the innovative technological product: Policy management in the reduction of plastic pollution
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Abdul Rahman, Haliza. "Impacts of Plastic Usage on Human Health." Asian Journal of Medicine and Biomedicine 6, S1 (November 4, 2022): 19–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.37231/ajmb.2022.6.s1.509.
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To date, most of natural materials used in manufacturing such as paper, glass, and cotton, have been replaced by plastic. Global production currently exceeds 320 million tonnes (Mt) per year, over 40% of which is used as single-use packaging, resulting in plastic waste [1]. In Malaysia, plastic shopping or carrier bags are one of the main sources of plastic waste, therefore, Malaysia is tracking global trends in both the overall generation of plastic waste and the consumption of single-use plastics. Malaysia ranks second in Asia after Philippines for annual per capita plastic use and, it ranks eighth among nations worldwide that mismanage plastic waste [2].
At every stage of its lifecycle, plastic poses distinct risks to human health. However, many traders still prefer to use non-environmentally friendly plastic bags because they are cheaper than biodegradable ones [2]. Chemicals are added to plastics to give them characteristics such as plasticity, colour, malleability, durability, or the hardness that some products need. Some groups of these chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates have been identified as hazardous for human health, as they have been suspected of disrupting our hormonal system. BPA has been associated with several health problems such as ovarian chromosomal damage, decreased sperm production, rapid puberty, rapid changes in immune system, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorder, obesity etc. Some studies have also claimed that BPA increases the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, pains, metabolic disorders, etc. BPA in women can be associated with impaired health, including obesity, endometrial hyperplasia, recurrent miscarriages, sterility, and polycystic ovarian syndrome [4]. Moreover, substances such as POPs, benzyne, and VOCs are present, which are all proven to adversely affect human health [3].
Exposure to harmful chemicals during manufacturing, leaching in the stored food items while using plastic packages or chewing of plastic teethers and toys by children are linked with severe adverse health outcomes such as cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive effects etc. [3]. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the impact of plastic to human health. This paper involved with secondary data collected from journals, proceedings, books, and internet sources regarding the topic.
To conclude, Malaysia recycled just 24% of key plastic resins in 2019 and currently is not on track to meet the JPSPN (National Solid Waste Management Department) recycling target of 40% by 2025. Hence, removing plastic from the environment is incredibly urgent, as it creates environmental and health problems for both humans and marine life. Thus, plastics recognized to be a global contaminant of concern by policymakers, scientists, media, and public attention on the issue steadily increasing. Hence, promotion of plastics substitutes and safe disposal of plastic waste requires urgent and definitive action to take care of this potential health hazard in future [3]. One of the immediate campaigns launched was a No Plastic Bag Day (NPBD) in 2011 in raising awareness and reducing the use of single-use plastics in Malaysia. Through this campaign, free plastic bags in grocery stores were banned nationwide with a levy of 0.20 MYR was also added per plastic bag consumed in grocery stores and supermarkets to change consumer behaviour. This was followed by a nationwide ban on the use of straws in 2020 [5]. Recognizing that plastic pollution is a serious emerging issue, Malaysia’s Roadmap towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018–2030 was gazetted back in 2018 with the vision to take a phased, evidence-based, and holistic approach by involving all stakeholders in jointly addressing single-use plastics pollution in Malaysia [5].
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Cowan, Emily, Andy M. Booth, Andreas Misund, Katja Klun, Ana Rotter, and Rachel Tiller. "Single-Use Plastic Bans: Exploring Stakeholder Perspectives on Best Practices for Reducing Plastic Pollution." Environments 8, no. 8 (August 16, 2021): 81. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/environments8080081.
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In this study, we conducted and documented workshops and interviews in Norway and Slovenia to identify stakeholder and future generation opinions and mitigation strategies for solving one of the most prominent environmental issues: plastic pollution. As part of the EU H2020 project GoJelly, stakeholders were brought together to explore their perceptions on considering jellyfish mucus as a new resource to contribute to reducing plastic pollution from entering the marine environment. The study was conducted in the spring of 2019, in a context directly after the European Union (EU) announced its Directive to ban the most commonly used single-use plastic (SUP) items. The study applied the snowball method as a methodological choice to identify relevant stakeholders. Systems thinking was utilized as a participatory modelling approach, which allowed for the creation of conceptual mind maps from the various workshops and interviews, to understand consumers’ consciousness, and to map out ideas on plastic pollution reduction. Plastic pollution takes place on a global scale and stakeholders discussed their individual perceptions of national and international solutions that could be put in place to solve it, including the opportunities around utilizing jellyfish mucus to filter and capture micro- and nanoplastic. We found that industry stakeholders in both case areas were generally more accepting of policy and increased innovation moving forward, but placed weight on the scientific community to conduct more research on the pollution issue and propose solutions. Future generation stakeholders (youth aged 14–18), however, put emphasis on consumer behavior and buying patterns of single-use products fueling the plastic crisis.
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Savva, Katerina, Xavier Borrell, Teresa Moreno, Ignacio Pérez-Pomeda, Carlos Barata, Marta Llorca, and Marinella Farré. "Cytotoxicity assessment and suspected screening of PLASTIC ADDITIVES in bioplastics of single-use household items." Chemosphere 313 (February 2023): 137494. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137494.
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Haque, Md Sazzadul, Shafkat Sharif, Aseer Masnoon, and Ebne Rashid. "SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-induced PPE and single-use plastic waste generation scenario." Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 39, no. 1_suppl (January 7, 2021): 3–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242x20980828.
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The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has demonstrated both positive and negative effects on the environment. Major concerns over personal hygiene, mandated and ease in lockdown actions and slackening of some policy measures have led to a massive surge in the use of disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) and other single-use plastic items. This generated an enormous amount of plastic waste from both healthcare and household units, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Apart from the healthcare workers, the general public have become accustomed to using PPE. These habits are threatening the land and marine environment with immense loads of plastic waste, due to improper disposal practices across the world, especially in developing nations. Contaminated PPE has already made its way to the oceans which will inevitably produce plastic particles alongside other pathogen-driven diseases. This study provided an estimation-based approach in quantifying the amount of contaminated plastic waste that can be expected daily from the massive usage of PPE (e.g. facemasks) because of the countrywide mandated regulations on PPE usage. The situation of Bangladesh has been analysed and projections revealed that a total of 3.4 billion pieces of single-use facemask, hand sanitizer bottles, hand gloves and disposable polyethylene bags will be produced monthly, which will give rise to 472.30 t of disposable plastic waste per day. The equations provided for the quantification of waste from used single-use plastic and PPE can be used for other countries for rough estimations. Then, the discussed recommendations will help concerned authorities and policy makers to design effective response plans. Sustainable plastic waste management for the current and post-pandemic period can be imagined and acted upon.
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Abdullah, Nur Baizura Aini, Nor Azwany Yaacob, and Ahmad Filza Ismail. "Development and Validation of a New Questionnaire to Measure Knowledge Level of Street Food Hawkers to Support the Single-Use Plastics Reduction Program in Kelantan, Malaysia." Sustainability 14, no. 13 (June 21, 2022): 7552. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14137552.
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Food hawkers’ knowledge about single-use plastic food containers must be assessed using a valid and reliable tool to improve assessment and evidence collection credibility and to promote environmental sustainability practice. This study aims to develop and validate a new questionnaire to assess the knowledge level of street food hawkers to support the single-use plastics reduction program. Seven experts were involved in the questionnaire process. In the validation process, a cross-sectional study employed the purposive sampling of 660 night-market street food hawkers in a north-eastern state in Peninsular Malaysia, utilising a Google Forms questionnaire with 22 self-administered items. The Content Validity Index (CVI) and Face Validity index (FVI) were used for the construct analysis. The dichotomous response scale was analysed using a two-parameter logistic model of item response theory (2-PL IRT), while marginal reliability used to determine the internal consistency. The I-CVI were calculated for all items with the value ≥ 0.83, except for nine items with I-CVI < 0.83. I-FVI with values of 0.83 or more were acceptable. The 2-PL IRT analyses indicated good psychometric properties considering the discrimination and difficulty index. The marginal reliability value was 0.77. The newly developed questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to assess the knowledge level of street-food hawkers to support the single-use plastics reduction program.
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Goss, Siobhan, Carlos Barba Bazan, Kaitlyn Neuman, Christina Peng, Nola Begeja, Celeste Elisabeth Suart, and Ray Truant. "Mod3D: A low-cost, flexible modular system of live-cell microscopy chambers and holders." PLOS ONE 17, no. 6 (June 3, 2022): e0269345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269345.
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Live-cell microscopy imaging typically involves the use of high-quality glass-bottom chambers that allow cell culture, gaseous buffer exchange and optical properties suitable for microscopy applications. However, commercial sources of these chambers can add significant annual costs to cell biology laboratories. Consumer products in three-dimensional printing technology, for both Filament Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Masked Stereo Lithography (MSLA), have resulted in more biomedical research labs adopting the use of these devices for prototyping and manufacturing of lab plastic-based items, but rarely consumables. Here we describe a modular, live-cell chamber with multiple design options that can be mixed per experiment. Single reusable carriers and the use of biodegradable plastics, in a hybrid of FDM and MSLA manufacturing methods, reduce plastic waste. The system is easy to adapt to bespoke designs, with concept-to-prototype in a single day, offers significant cost savings to the users over commercial sources, and no loss in dimensional quality or reliability.
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Bui, Thanh-Khiet L., Quoc-Khanh Pham, Nhu-Thuy Doan, Thanh-Ban Nguyen, Van-Nghia Nguyen, Kieu Lan Phuong Nguyen, Hong Hanh Nguyen, and Hong Quan Nguyen. "Marine litter pollution along sandy beaches of Can Gio coast, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 964, no. 1 (January 1, 2022): 012017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/964/1/012017.
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Abstract Marine debris is a significant threat to the marine environment, human health and the economy in Can Gio island, Vietnam. In this study, we conducted beach litter surveys to quantify and characterize marine litter from six beach transects in this region for the first time using the OSPAR beach litter monitoring guideline. A total of 29,456 items weighting 529,432 g was recorded from 12 surveys in two monitoring campaigns in December 2019 (dry season) and in June 2020 (rainy season). Plastic was the most abundant type of litter in terms of quantity (a total of 26,662 items) and weight (325,606 g), followed by paper and cardboard, cloth, wood, metal, glass and ceramics, rubber and other items. Meanwhile, ropes (less than 1 cm in diameter) and plastic bags accounted for the major parts of sampled plastic items, i.e., 20.18% and 14.46%, respectively. In general, a higher percentage of marine litter, particularly the fishing related items, was found in the rainy season than in the dry season, possibly due to increased fishing and aquaculture activities. In contrast, a reduction pattern of the single use plastics in the rainy season might be due to the decreased tourism activities during the Covid pandemic period. This study not only showed the magnitude of litter pollution, but also provided valuable information that could help decision making to better control and reduce marine litter in the region. In addition, insights from this study indicate that there is an urgent need to design collection, reuse and recycling programs in the area. The collected recyclables, specially plastics, will be a great source of materials for recyclers in a circular economy achieving sustainable development goals.
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Artru, Maxime, and Antoine Lecerf. "Slow degradation of compostable plastic carrier bags in a stream and its riparian area." Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology 55 (2019): 18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/limn/2019017.
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There is no place on Earth where plastic debris could not be found. Impacts of plastics on aesthetics, biota and ecosystems are dependent on how long plastic items last, and what degradation products are released, in recipient environments. As bio-based plastics tend to replace petroleum-based plastics in everyday life, it is important to upgrade knowledge on the degradation of new polymers in natural environments. Single-use plastic carrier bags are nowadays made of bio-plastics certified as biodegradable and compostable. It is unclear, however, whether claims of biodegradability and compostability can be taken as evidence of rapid degradation of plastic bags outside recycling/composting facilities. This study sought to provide quantified information about the degradation of compostable plastic carrier bags in streams and riparian zones. We found that plastic samples enclosed in different types of mesh bags lost weight at extremely slow rates, albeit significant when submerged in a stream. 95% of initial plastic mass remained after 77 days spent in water whereas alder leaf litter allowed to decompose under the same condition had completely disappeared before the end of the study. Determination of respiration rate and invertebrate abundance in plastic samples showed a greater decomposer activity in the stream than in the riparian environment. However, biotically-mediated degradation by decomposers was probably overridden by dissolution processes in mediating plastic mass loss. Our findings suggest that mismanaged plastic carrier bags could impact recipient ecosystems even when they are claimed as biodegradable or compostable.
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Bartolotta, Jill F., and Scott D. Hardy. "Barriers and benefits to desired behaviors for single use plastic items in northeast Ohio's Lake Erie basin." Marine Pollution Bulletin 127 (February 2018): 576–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.037.
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Campos, Diego, Gilary Morales-Tejeda, and Victor Razuri-Esteves. "Characterization of Seafloor Marine Litter Distribution in a Shipping Route of Ancon Bay." Environmental Research, Engineering and Management 78, no. 2 (July 14, 2022): 38–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.78.2.30627.
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Marine litter on the seafloor has been increasing for several decades. Moreover, shipping routes and fishing ports are considered as affected areas with benthic macro-litter distribution. In Peru, the available information about benthic litter is limited and only originates from cleaning campaigns. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct the first scientific report about benthic macro-litter occurrence and composition distributed in a shipping route of Ancon Bay. For this purpose, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was used to evaluate the marine litter composition and distribution at depths between 1 and 25 m. A total of 8.8 h of video transects were recorded, and 46 litter items were identified, where plastic represented 80.4%; and industry food and single-use bags were the most frequent items. Plastic fragments and food industry bags dominated areas closer to San Francisco Grande mud sandy beach and the anchorage zone, respectively, while non-plastic items were more common in front of rocky shores. The present work emphasizes the importance of the studies about benthic marine debris for better decision-making regarding litter management. It also highlighted the usefulness of low-cost ROVs in identifying different litter items in shallow areas.
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Wagner, Travis P. "POLICY INSTRUMENTS TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOOD SERVICE WARE IN THE USA." Volume 09 - March 2020, no. 9 (February 10, 2020): 11–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.31025/2611-4135/2020.13903.
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There is global recognition that waste plastic is a ubiquitous pollutant in the built and natural environments. A component of plastic litter and debris is single-use, expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service ware. Reducing the consumption of EPS food service ware is challenging because reuse is not feasible, recycling is not economically viable, and composting is not possible. In the absence of national action to reduce EPS in the USA, local governments have taken the lead on enacting ordinances to eliminate or reduce EPS food service ware. This paper examined the variety of policy instruments that can or have been used by local governments in the USA to reduce EPS food service ware. Because of the inabilities to reuse, recycle, and/or compost EPS, the most frequently used policy instrument has been a ban. As of December 2019, there were 249 local bans in the USA covering 12.85% of the nation’s population: of these bans, 9.6% were partial bans restricting distribution only on government and public property, 65.9% were narrow bans that ban distribution by restaurants and food providers, 8.8% were full bans that include the narrow ban and also ban using EPS food packaging by grocery stores, and 15.7% adopted an expanded ban that includes the full ban and also baned other single-use plastic food ware related items including the selling or distributing of EPS coolers and single-use plastic utensils, straws, stirrers, lids, cups, plates, and containers.
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Rajput, Himadri, Munjed A. Maraqa, Fatima Zraydi, Lina A. Al Khatib, Noor Ameen, Rime Ben ElKaid, Safia S. Al Jaberi, Noura A. Alharbi, Reka Howard, and Ashraf Aly Hassan. "A Survey on the Use of Plastic versus Biodegradable Bottles for Drinking Water Packaging in the United Arab Emirates." Sustainability 14, no. 5 (February 24, 2022): 2664. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14052664.
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Due to intensive utilization and extensive production, plastic waste is becoming a serious threat to the environment and human health. The situation is even worse in countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where single-use plastic water bottles add to the load of plastic pollution. The main objective of this survey was to assess the extent of bottled water utilization by the UAE residents and their awareness of the environmental concerns arising from single-use plastic bottles. The aim was also to evaluate their willingness to shift towards using biodegradable plastic bottles. This study involved the feedback of 2589 respondents living in the UAE. The eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) was applied to determine the most responsible variables explaining the variability of our data set. A chi-square analysis was also used to determine the significance among the responses. Most of the respondents to this survey were UAE nationals (79.8%) of ages ranging from 21 to 35 years (42%), who were educated, with most holding a university degree (69.6%). Regardless of their gender, age, occupation, education, and income, a large group of respondents (40.7%) was concerned about the impact of their purchased items on the environment; however, the frequency of plastic products recycled was observed to be low (49.7%). According to the findings of this survey, 42.4% of the respondents were likely to purchase 100% biodegradable bottles, and about 70% of the respondents expressed a willingness to spend at least AED 1 more for purchasing 100% biodegradable bottles.
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Rhodes, Christopher J. "Solving the plastic problem: From cradle to grave, to reincarnation." Science Progress 102, no. 3 (August 8, 2019): 218–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0036850419867204.
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Plastic packaging accounts for 36% of all plastics made, but amounts to 47% of all plastic waste; 90% of all plastic items are used once and then discarded, which corresponds to around 50% of the total mass of plastics manufactured. Evidence for the ubiquity of microplastic pollution is accumulating rapidly, and wherever such material is sought, it seems to be found. Thus, microplastics have been identified in Arctic ice, the air, food and drinking water, soils, rivers, aquifers, remote maintain regions, glaciers, the oceans and ocean sediments, including waters and deep sea sediments around Antarctica, and within the deepest marine trenches of the Earth. They have also been detected in the bodies of animals, including humans, and as being passed along the hierarchy of food chains, up to marine top predators. Evidence has also been presented that microplastics are able to cross different life stages of mosquito that use different habitats – larva (feeding) to pupa (non-feeding) to adult terrestrial (flying) – and therefore can be spread from aquatic systems by flying insects. The so-called ‘missing plastic problem’ appears to be, in part, due to limitations in sampling methods, that is, many of the very small microplastic particles may simply escape capture in the trawl nets that are typically employed to collect them, but have been evidenced in grab-sampling experiments. Moreover, it is simply not possible to measure entirely through the vast, oceanic volumes of the oceans. It can, however, be concluded with some confidence that the majority of the plastic is not located at the sea surface, and indeed, several different sinks have been proposed for microplastics, including the sea floor and sediments, the ocean column itself, ice sheets, glaciers and soils. The treatment of land with sewage sludge is also thought to make a significant contribution of microplastics to soil. A substantial amount of airborne microparticulate pollution is created by the abrasion of tyres on road surfaces (and other ‘non-exhaust’ sources), meaning that even electric vehicles are not ‘clean’ in this regard, despite their elimination of tailpipe PM2.5 and PM10 emissions. The emergence of nanoplastics in the environment poses a new set of potential threats, although any impacts on human health are not yet known, save, as indicated from model studies. While improved design, manufacture, collection, reuse, repurposing and reprocessing/recycling of plastic items are necessary, overwhelmingly, a curbing in the use of plastic materials in the first place is demanded, particularly from single-use packaging. However, plastic pollution is just one element in the overall matrix of a changing climate (‘the world’s woes’) and must be addressed as part of an integrated consideration of how we use all resources, fossil and otherwise, and the need to change our expectations, goals and lifestyles. In this effort, the role of deglobalisation/relocalisation may prove critical: thus, food and other necessities might be produced more on the local than the global scale, with smaller inputs of fossil fuels for transportation and other purposes, water and fertilisers, along with a marked reduction in the need for plastic packaging.
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Cordova, Muhammad Reza, Triyoni Purbonegoro, Rachma Puspitasari, Riyana Subandi, Muhammad Taufik Kaisupy, Singgih Prasetyo Adi Wibowo, Nurjamin Nurjamin, Suparmo Suparmo, and Serly Sapulete. "Transboundary debris in Indonesian frontier and outermost island: A preliminary case study of Nipah Island." OLDI (Oseanologi dan Limnologi di Indonesia) 5, no. 3 (December 27, 2020): 171. http://dx.doi.org/10.14203/oldi.2020.v5i3.335.
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Anthropogenic debris in marine pollution is one of the significant environmental problems. The objective of the research was focused on the abundance and the distribution of debris found on Nipah Island,Riau Island Province, which was surveyed at ten sampling points, as a preliminary monitoring. Abundance and distribution were estimated with line transect of 50m x 3m. Debris items were categorized by the type of material from the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The abundance and weight calculated each of the types, and simple identification of country supplier also determined from the labels of the plastic. The result showed the average debris abundance of 7.05±6.71 items/m<sup>2</sup> and an average weight of 1.67±3.98 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The most debris abundance found in every station were plastic (single-use plastic bottle/cup), lumber, metal, and glass. Stranded lumber was the dominant weighted samples, followed by plastic debris. Approximately 51.60% of total plastic (food wrappers) with identifiable labels were from Malaysia (24.26%), Indonesia (23.68%), Singapore (2.33%), and elsewhere (1.33%). In order to manage transboundary debris, science is the primary point to obtain proper alternative handling. In order to make successful marine pollution prevention, it is necessary to have a good education and outreach program, a reliable system of law and policy, and law enforcement to the government and private sector.
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Hakuzimana, Janvier. "BREAK FREE FROM PLASTICS: ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES AND EVIDENCE FROM RWANDA." Environment & Ecosystem Science 5, no. 1 (March 31, 2021): 27–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.26480/ees.01.2021.27.36.
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Plastics production (i.e 450 million tons per annum globally), use and disposal (i.e 300 million tons per annum globally) are one of the top environmental concerns and global waste management impediments. Nevertheless, nearly 90% of all plastics ever produced to present has never been recycled. Over the past decades, researchers’ voices have repeatedly been raised for acting and saving inland as well as aquatic ecosystems being harmed by the increasing plastic pollution. Microplastics have been reported by several studies to be in tap water, bottled drinks and in fish we eat. Consequently, conventions and agreements have been signed, laws and regulations enforced (banning, increased taxation, etc) in various regions and countries across the globe for lessening plastics harm on the environment. In this struggle, Rwanda looks to be in front line in beating plastic pollution crisis compared to other regional and continental countries; hence resulted in calling its capital Kigali by many, “the Africa’s cleanest city”. This success behind plastics break free could be attributed to Rwanda’s current strong institutional, political will (promotion of plastic recycling and reuse), legal frameworks (e.g non- biodegradable plastic bags ban, outlawing of single-use plastic items, penalties, severe fines, etc) and active citizens (e.g monthly community works also known as umuganda etc) in terms of eliminating plastic pollution, foster socio-economic development and environmental protection. These strategies do not only protect the environment but also save the money that the government would spend in cleaning the cities and facilitate the advertising of the country for its eco-friendliness; resulting in its tourism development. Recently, similar initiatives of reducing or banning plastics have been taken by several governments in African ,, lower-income countries and developed ones from other regions across the globe due to either limited recycling facilities, inadequate plastics trash disposal or as a solution to overcome the increase of plastic pollution which harm humans, farm animals, aquatic lives (fishes, sea turtles, etc), and the environment health. Thus, the present paper reviews the current knowledge of environmental impacts of plastics, approaches adopted for alleviating the harm from plastics in Rwanda and their implementation procedures which gave credits to the country on global environmental protection scene so that lessons from these practices can be implemented by other countries which aim at reducing plastics waste and associated pollution. The current solid waste management (i.e mainly plastics) and challenges are also discussed in order to be addressed by the authority in charge. Data and literature were retrieved from peer-reviewed journal articles, websites, books, reports, dissertations, local and international online newspapers. Despite significant efforts made towards a plastic free country, less has been written on plastic pollution in Rwanda; making it difficult to get reliable data and information for quantifying past impacts of plastic wastes. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge no scientific research or report has been so far conducted to prove how plastic wastes contributed over the past years to flooding, prevented crops from growing, to what extent plastic litters have restrained rainwater from penetrating various soil types and other forms of plastic pollution in the country. Such studies are paramount for scientifically justify the ban initiatives in the country. This review resulted into encyclopedia that other researchers can build on to better understand environmental impacts of plastics to learn best plastics management practices for a sustainable environment.
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Soong, Ya-Hue Valerie, Margaret J. Sobkowicz, and Dongming Xie. "Recent Advances in Biological Recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Wastes." Bioengineering 9, no. 3 (February 27, 2022): 98. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9030098.
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most commonly used polyester plastics worldwide but is extremely difficult to be hydrolyzed in a natural environment. PET plastic is an inexpensive, lightweight, and durable material, which can readily be molded into an assortment of products that are used in a broad range of applications. Most PET is used for single-use packaging materials, such as disposable consumer items and packaging. Although PET plastics are a valuable resource in many aspects, the proliferation of plastic products in the last several decades have resulted in a negative environmental footprint. The long-term risk of released PET waste in the environment poses a serious threat to ecosystems, food safety, and even human health in modern society. Recycling is one of the most important actions currently available to reduce these impacts. Current clean-up strategies have attempted to alleviate the adverse impacts of PET pollution but are unable to compete with the increasing quantities of PET waste exposed to the environment. In this review paper, current PET recycling methods to improve life cycle and waste management are discussed, which can be further implemented to reduce plastics pollution and its impacts on health and environment. Compared with conventional mechanical and chemical recycling processes, the biotechnological recycling of PET involves enzymatic degradation of the waste PET and the followed bioconversion of degraded PET monomers into value-added chemicals. This approach creates a circular PET economy by recycling waste PET or upcycling it into more valuable products with minimal environmental footprint.
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GRODZIŃSKA-JURCZAK, MAŁGORZATA, ALEKSANDRA KRAWCZYK, ANNA JURCZAK, MARIANNA STRZELECKA, MARCIN RECHCIŃSKI, and MARIUSZ BOĆKOWSKI. "ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICES VS. COVID-19 PANDEMIC FEAR – PLASTIC GOVERNANCE RE-ASSESSMENT." Society Register 4, no. 2 (April 7, 2020): 49–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.14746/sr.2020.4.2.04.
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Alarming plastic production growth worldwide reinforces the public debate about the prevailing environmental crisis, whereby single-use-plastic (SUP) items are considered as by far the most harmful to the environment and public health. Accordingly, European environmental policy aims at eliminating SUP. Recently, we presented a model of plastic governance that derives from a circular economy approach identifying and taking into consideration perspectives of different actors in the plastic governance, such as producers, wholesalers, shop keepers, consumers, citizen scientists, and academia. Our results illustrate that the vast majority of stakeholders cared for the natural environment and understood the need to phase out SUP from the global economy. We proposed that a knowledge brokerage, undertaken by scientists via means of citizen science, as the most effective method to implement elimination policy, as it provides stakeholders with knowledge on why and how to handle SUP issues. However, at the time of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a plastic governance model required a re-assessment. The perceived role of SUP has changed, as it reflects the health emergency. Namely, due to the health safety reasons stakeholders and consumers are requesting even more SUP than previously. Following up on our data gathered prior to the pandemic, we suggest that under the new circumstances health concerns outweigh the environmental concerns being determined by a shift in the value hierarchization. The paper discusses preliminary results.
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Kamalakkannan, Sivappirakasam, Amila Abeynayaka, Asela K. Kulatunga, Rajeev Kumar Singh, Miwa Tatsuno, and Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage. "Life Cycle Assessment of Selected Single-Use Plastic Products towards Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations in Sri Lanka." Sustainability 14, no. 21 (October 30, 2022): 14170. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su142114170.
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The global demand for plastic is expected to double in the next 20 years. The increasing demand for Single-Use Plastic Products (SUPPs) has become one of the main environmental problems in many developing countries, including Sri Lanka, through direct and indirect means, in the way of excessive consumption and the pollution of the environment through waste generation. In this way, there is a pressing need to accelerate the sustainability evaluation, comparison, impact mitigation and policy recommendation of SUPPs to address the environmental impacts and sustainable development. Therefore, this study aims to quantify and compare the environmental impacts of SUPPs for policy decision making in Sri Lanka using life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques. Accordingly, the most popular and widely used single-use plastic products, which are under consideration for regulation in Sri Lanka, and their possible alternatives, are considered for this LCA study. The results reveal that SUPPs produced using polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have a significant contribution in all life cycle stages, in terms of global warming potential (GWP) and endpoint impact categories. However, the outcomes of the study reveal that the net GWP impact of SUPPs that have recycling practice at the end of life shows better performance compared to incineration and landfill. In addition, the polylactic acid- (PLA)-based products also show a significant impact on mid- and end-point GWP impact categories. Remarkably, the midpoint analysis of PLA-based products and their alternatives emphasized that PLA production was the most impactful for most of the midpoint impact categories due to PLA resin production, which contributes significantly to all impact categories. In particular, for the pesticide bottles with the preferred end-of-life option of incineration, the HDPE indicates a 7.6% lower GWP compared to PET. For reusable steel cutlery, the largest GWP-associated life cycle stage is the user phase (97.5%), which includes cleaning the cutlery. However, the overall reduction in GWP in the use of steel, considering the best (PS with recycling) and worst (PS with incineration) case scenarios, with single-use items are 0.01 and 0.05 kg CO2 (eq), respectively. In the case of pesticide bottles, with the preferred end-of-life option being incineration, the HDPE indicates a 7.6% lower GWP compared to PET. the study reveals that conducting LCA will facilitate scientific decision making for policy interventions related to SUPPs and their processes. Notably, the study shows that, at present, the capability of conducting LCA studies to evaluate the sustainability performance of SUPPs in Sri Lanka is limited due to the lack of life cycle inventory (LCI) data availability on SUPPs and relevant waste management practices in Sri Lanka.
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Lionetto, Francesca, and Carola Esposito Corcione. "An Overview of the Sorption Studies of Contaminants on Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Microplastics in the Marine Environment." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 9, no. 4 (April 19, 2021): 445. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse9040445.
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Marine pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems, mainly due to single-use or disposable plastic waste fragmenting into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) and entering oceans from the coasts together with human-made MPs. A rapidly growing worry concerning environmental and human safety has stimulated research interest in the potential risks induced by the chemicals associated with MPs/NPs. In this framework, the present review analyzes the recent advances in adsorption and desorption studies of different contaminants species, both organic and metallic, on MPs made of Poly(Ethylene terephthalate). The choice of PET is motivated by its great diffusion among plastic items and, unfortunately, also in marine plastic pollution. Due to the ubiquitous presence of PET MPS/NPs, the interest in its role as a vector of contaminants has abruptly increased in the last three years, as demonstrated by the very high number of recent papers on sorption studies in different environments. The present review relies on a chemical engineering approach aimed at providing a deeper overview of both the sorption mechanisms of organic and metal contaminants to PET MPs/NPs and the most used adsorption kinetic models to predict the mass transfer process from the liquid phase to the solid adsorbent.
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Jacobs, Carly, Katie Soulliere, Susan Sawyer-Beaulieu, Abir Sabzwari, and Edwin Tam. "Challenges to the Circular Economy: Recovering Wastes from Simple versus Complex Products." Sustainability 14, no. 5 (February 23, 2022): 2576. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14052576.
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The circular economy re-interprets the recovery of materials by promoting designing out waste from products, retaining materials for reuse, and emphasizing key elements universally accepted for sustainability. The current efforts to target, isolate, and reduce single-use items, particularly plastics, have only recently begun in earnest. Unfortunately, the recovery and recycling of materials have been disrupted by global market uncertainty, and recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic and its impacts complicate materials recovery, the core of the circular economy still depends on efficiently capturing and returning spent materials for production. Arguably, our perception and common understanding of the recovery process is influenced significantly by the recycling of simple consumer products, such as plastic bags and beverage bottles. However, there are greater difficulties when managing multiple materials from significantly more complex consumer products, for example, from end-of-life vehicles. This paper presents an overview of how waste recovery-related issues vary between simple versus complex consumer products. Using food packaging, tires, cell phones, furniture, and end-of-life vehicles as examples, this paper provides a commentary on the challenges facing complex product recovery compared to simple consumer products in the Canadian context in order to establish how this classification concept can be beneficial for describing a given product and its materials recovery prospects. A categorization framework is developed and applied to these case study products to provide a relative comparison of product complexity.
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Ferreira, Ana M., Jorge Martins, Luísa H. Carvalho, and Fernão D. Magalhães. "Biosourced Disposable Trays Made of Brewer’s Spent Grain and Potato Starch." Polymers 11, no. 5 (May 26, 2019): 923. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym11050923.
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Single-use plastic items made of non-biodegradable and fossil-based materials have been identified as a major environmental problem in modern society. Food packaging materials represent an important fraction of these, and replacement with biosourced, sustainable and low-cost alternatives, is a key priority. In the present work, and for the first time, trays suitable for some food packaging applications were produced by the hot-pressing of brewer’s spent grains (BSG, a low added-value byproduct of the beer industry), bound with potato starch. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays were used as reference, since this material has been widely used in food packaging trays. The results demonstrated that all trays produced with varying proportions of BSG and potato starch have appropriate flexural strength, with values ranging between 1.51 ± 0.32 MPa, for 80% BSG content, and 2.62 ± 0.46 MPa, for 40% BSG content, which is higher than for EPS, 0.64 ± 0.50 MPa. Regardless of BSG content, flexural strength and modulus decreased significantly after contact with water, due to starch plasticization, attaining values below EPS. Trays produced with 60% BSG, and also with the addition of chitosan and glyoxal presented the highest flexural strength, both before and after contact with water, 3.75 ± 0.52 MPa and 0.44 ± 0.11 MPa, respectively. The latter is reasonably close to the reference value obtained for EPS.
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Agyapong, NAF, RA Annan, C. Apprey, and R. Aryeetey. "A review of Ghana’s food system and its implications on sustainability and the development of national food-based dietary guidelines." African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 22, no. 2 (April 4, 2022): 19525–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.107.21800.
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Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) provide culturally-appropriate and actionable recommendations based on which populations can make healthy food choices. Food systems sustainability, from production to consumption, and disposal of food and food-related items, should be a critical consideration for developing such guidelines. This rapid review assesses Ghana's food systems to determine the level of sustainability to inform the FBDG recommendations. Peer-reviewed articles, documents and reports of relevance to Ghana were included in this rapid review. A hundred and eight papers, answering different questions on food system sustainability were reviewed. Bread, cereals, fish and indigenous vegetables are the most frequently consumed food groups. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages are the most consumed imported foods. In rural areas, 53% of dietary protein comes from plant sources. Fish is the main the source of animal protein for most Ghanaian households. There is intensive exploitation of marine and fresh water resources. Most livestock are raised by smallholder farmers using free-range system. Poultry is frequently kept on deep litter system and only a few are large-scale. Crop production for household consumption and small-scale animal rearing are predominant, especially in Northern Ghana. By weight, fruits and vegetables are the least cultivated and consumed crops at the household level. Wood is the commonest source of fuel for cooking, especially in rural areas. Single use plastic is the most used and preferred material for food packaging. Indiscriminate and poor management of waste and pesticide misuse is commonly reported. The findings suggest the need for promoting production diversification, use of clean fuel and reusable food packaging as part of FBDGs to enhance sustainability of Ghana’s food systems. Key words: sustainability, food system, Ghana, Food-based Dietary Guidelines, production, diversification
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Kedzierski, M., D. Wierzbickia, A. Fryskowska, and B. Chlebowska. "ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING LOW-COST SCANNING SYSTEM IN 3D MODELING." ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLI-B3 (June 9, 2016): 261–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xli-b3-261-2016.
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The laser scanning technique is still a very popular and fast growing method of obtaining information on modeling 3D objects. The use of low-cost miniature scanners creates new opportunities for small objects of 3D modeling based on point clouds acquired from the scan. The same, the development of accuracy and methods of automatic processing of this data type is noticeable. The article presents methods of collecting raw datasets in the form of a point-cloud using a low-cost ground-based laser scanner FabScan. As part of the research work 3D scanner from an open source FabLab project was constructed. In addition, the results for the analysis of the geometry of the point clouds obtained by using a low-cost laser scanner were presented. Also, some analysis of collecting data of different structures (made of various materials such as: glass, wood, paper, gum, plastic, plaster, ceramics, stoneware clay etc. and of different shapes: oval and similar to oval and prism shaped) have been done. The article presents two methods used for analysis: the first one - visual (general comparison between the 3D model and the real object) and the second one - comparative method (comparison between measurements on models and scanned objects using the mean error of a single sample of observations). The analysis showed, that the low-budget ground-based laser scanner FabScan has difficulties with collecting data of non-oval objects. Items built of glass painted black also caused problems for the scanner. In addition, the more details scanned object contains, the lower the accuracy of the collected point-cloud is. Nevertheless, the accuracy of collected data (using oval-straight shaped objects) is satisfactory. The accuracy, in this case, fluctuates between ± 0,4 mm and ± 1,0 mm whereas when using more detailed objects or a rectangular shaped prism the accuracy is much more lower, between 2,9 mm and ± 9,0 mm. Finally, the publication presents the possibility (for the future expansion of research) of modernization FabScan by the implementation of a larger amount of camera-laser units. This will enable spots the registration , that are less visible.
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Kedzierski, M., D. Wierzbickia, A. Fryskowska, and B. Chlebowska. "ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING LOW-COST SCANNING SYSTEM IN 3D MODELING." ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLI-B3 (June 9, 2016): 261–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-xli-b3-261-2016.
Full textAbstract:
The laser scanning technique is still a very popular and fast growing method of obtaining information on modeling 3D objects. The use of low-cost miniature scanners creates new opportunities for small objects of 3D modeling based on point clouds acquired from the scan. The same, the development of accuracy and methods of automatic processing of this data type is noticeable. The article presents methods of collecting raw datasets in the form of a point-cloud using a low-cost ground-based laser scanner FabScan. As part of the research work 3D scanner from an open source FabLab project was constructed. In addition, the results for the analysis of the geometry of the point clouds obtained by using a low-cost laser scanner were presented. Also, some analysis of collecting data of different structures (made of various materials such as: glass, wood, paper, gum, plastic, plaster, ceramics, stoneware clay etc. and of different shapes: oval and similar to oval and prism shaped) have been done. The article presents two methods used for analysis: the first one - visual (general comparison between the 3D model and the real object) and the second one - comparative method (comparison between measurements on models and scanned objects using the mean error of a single sample of observations). The analysis showed, that the low-budget ground-based laser scanner FabScan has difficulties with collecting data of non-oval objects. Items built of glass painted black also caused problems for the scanner. In addition, the more details scanned object contains, the lower the accuracy of the collected point-cloud is. Nevertheless, the accuracy of collected data (using oval-straight shaped objects) is satisfactory. The accuracy, in this case, fluctuates between ± 0,4 mm and ± 1,0 mm whereas when using more detailed objects or a rectangular shaped prism the accuracy is much more lower, between 2,9 mm and ± 9,0 mm. Finally, the publication presents the possibility (for the future expansion of research) of modernization FabScan by the implementation of a larger amount of camera-laser units. This will enable spots the registration , that are less visible.
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Bridgman, John B., Andrew L. Newsom, David J. Chrisp, Abi E. Estelle, and Mark Saunders. "Comparison of an Air-Fed Mask System with Hospital-Issued Personal Protection Equipments for Dental Aerosol Protection During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Open Dentistry Journal 15, no. 1 (December 31, 2021): 742–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874210602115010742.
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Aim: A pilot study was conducted with the aim of developing a system to protect the eyes, nose, and mouth from the aerosol generated from a high-speed dental handpiece during the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is known to be present in the saliva of an infected individual during the contagious viral shedding phase of the disease. The use of rotary dental instruments places oral health practitioners at risk of contracting COVID-19 from infected individuals. In particular, it is very difficult to protect the mucous membranes of the face against the extremely fine aerosol produced from a high-speed dental handpiece. Objectives: This study aimed to develop and test a novel PPE system for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. An air-fed spray-painting mask was used under a plastic hood to protect against the aerosol from a high-speed dental handpiece. This was found to be superior compared to hospital-issued N-95 masks and eye protection in our test model. Methods: Subjects donned various forms of PPE whilst using a high-speed dental handpiece in a confined cubicle. The efficacy of each form of PPE was evaluated by adding fluorescein to the water coolant supply line of a high-speed dental handpiece before checking for facial contamination with an ophthalmology slit lamp. Results: Under our test conditions, the N-95 mask did not prevent nasal and mouth contaminations, but the combination of an air-fed mask with a sealed hood prevented these contaminations. Although goggles worn tightly did prevent contamination, the air-fed mask system was far more comfortable and did not fog up. Discussion: Under the rigorous test conditions of our model, we found hospital-issued PPE ineffective. We also found the single strategy of using positive airflow into a face mask ineffective, even with extremely high levels of airflow. Complete protection was only achieved reliably by the combination of physically sealing off the face from the surrounding airspace and using the air-fed system to provide an external source of air to breathe. We effectively made the clinical equivalent of a dive bell helmet. The air-fed mask is supplied by a standard dental air compressor and is simple to install for someone familiar with the technical aspects of compressors. The compressor does not rely on a filter and proves effective with cheap and easily accessible disposable items. Conclusion: Under rigorous testing conditions, the developed air-fed mask system with a sealed hood on low flow performed better than hospital-issued PPE against high-speed dental aerosol protection. The developed system protects the operators from the air of the room contaminated with aerosol and brings in safe air from the outside for them to breathe.
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Darakhshan Khan, Tasneem Husain, Gulafsha Kassab, and Sharique A Ali. "Microplastics as potential source for environmental pollution: An updated review on Indian scenario Post Covid -19." World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences 12, no. 3 (December 30, 2022): 094–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2022.12.3.0229.
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Technological advancement has tremendously accelerated the promotion of microplastics in our environment. In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the production and use of plastics in the form of facemasks, face shields and PPE kits across the globe has intensified and becomes a new environmental challenge. As scientific knowledge is limited concerning the source, exposure, toxicity, and bioavailability of microplastics in the surroundings, this review has been aimed to provide comprehensive information about microplastics present in the environment with special emphasis on their deposition and related increasing menace in India, during and after the COVID 19 period. We have focussed on the 5 key research needs, involving (1) the occurrence and abundance of microplastics (2) sources, fate, and occurence of microplastics in different media (water, air and soil), (3) toxicological implications of microplastics on human beings, (4) scenario of microplastics disposal during COVID-19 pandemic and (5) major challenges and future directions to curtail them. We suggest that addressing these knowledge gaps will lay the groundwork to counteract such environmental issues which are important to prevent them from exacerbating. Combating microplastic contamination can be achieved through an intensive and combined effort of all, including the stakeholders, researchers, educators, media and policymakers. We can join the effort to manage plastic in the environment by refusing, reducing, reusing and recycling the plastic products, to prolong every item’s life cycle as far as possible. A start would be a focus on limiting the use of single-use plastic products, especially if alternatives are readily available.
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Greene, V. W. "Reuse of Disposable Medical Devices: Historical and Current Aspects." Infection Control 7, no. 10 (October 1986): 508–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0195941700065140.
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AbstractThe “plastics revolution” of the last quarter century disrupted a hospital tradition. Since the 1890s, hospitals processed, packaged, and sterilized most of the medical-surgical items they needed in their own sterile supply departments–a “cottage industry” developed specifically for recycling. Only those consumable items that were too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient to reprocess were purchased from outside manufacturers as presterilized, single-use “disposables.” Since the plastics revolution, however, the “disposables” started to displace the “reusables,” and while claiming to be an economical innovation, have become a significant item in the budget. Some hospitals feel that if disposables save money, reusing the disposable several times will save more. The practice is spreading. The manufacturers, in turn, claim that hospitals do not have adequate quality assurance programs or skills to reprocess their items properly. The debate is further complicated by legal and ethical ramifications, as well as commercial and economic arguments.
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Camedda, Andrea, Marco Matiddi, Alvise Vianello, Stefania Coppa, Jessica Bianchi, Cecilia Silvestri, Luca Palazzo, et al. "Polymer composition assessment suggests prevalence of single-use plastics among items ingested by loggerhead sea turtles in the western mediterranean sub-region." Environmental Pollution 292 (January 2022): 118274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118274.
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Piekło, J., and M. Maj. "Methods of Additive Manufacturing used in the Technology of Skeleton Castings." Archives of Metallurgy and Materials 59, no. 2 (June 1, 2014): 699–702. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/amm-2014-0114.
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Abstract Rapid development of the methods of additive manufacturing (AM) introduces a number of changes to the design of foundry equipment. AM methods are of particular importance in the development of technology to make small lots of castings or single cast items of complex shapes, such as skeleton castings manufactured also by means of other technologies [1]. AM methods create the possibility of making single-use moulds, cores and wax patterns, as well as patterns made from plastics for repeated use. The development of AM techniques gives theoretically unlimited possibilities in the choice of the designed casting configurations. This fact can be used during the analysis of casting mechanical properties based on the methods of topology optimisation [2], [3], [17], when the said optimisation carried out at the initial stage of design ”matches” the shape of parts to the field of stresses or displacements caused by external load and fixing mode. The article discusses the possibilities and advantages that result from combining the new methods of shaping the casting endurance with AM technologies.
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Donaldson, Keith W., and Akihiro Kajiyama. "Operationally Ready Advancements in Oil Free Corrosion Control for Advanced Materials." Key Engineering Materials 843 (May 2020): 153–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.843.153.
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Operationally ready is a key component to effective management of equipment, spares and systems through manufacturing, shipment and transport, meaning that products are impacted by how they stored, shipped and staged. That means no rust, no degradation and the ability to utilize the equipment or parts quickly, with no cleaning or additional work required. Significant advancements have been made in oil free, volatile free anti-corrosion protection to aid this. These advancements are in the form of plastics, laminates, canvas, woven products and shrink films that can be used to provide long term stable packaging that can be used both as short term, one-time use, multiple use applications or even used to create portable storage shelters. These materials will also help stabilize and help protect metals as well as non-metallic components and materials such as items that can swell, gaskets, fabric and rubber components, against degradation – this is critical since many systems are combination of materials, no longer just single material construction. These developments in oil free, volatile free packaging have been successfully incorporated into automotive applications with short term and long-term protection being available from the same packaging. Additionally, information on accelerated testing on already environmentally stressed items will be reviewed and solutions presented to their protection schemes as well.
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Puccini, Monica, Maurizia Seggiani, Domenico Castiello, Gianluigi Calvanese, and Sandra Vitolo. "Novel Thermoplastic Materials from Wastes of the Leather Industry." Applied Mechanics and Materials 467 (December 2013): 41–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.467.41.
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Hydrolyzed collagen from leather industry is a natural polymer easily available at low cost and its use is not in competition with food industries or other main applications because it is a waste material and a by-product of the tanning process. In this work, polyethylene-collagen hydrolizate blends, at ratios of 100/0, 90/10 and 80/20, were processed using a blow film line equipped with a single screw extruder. Film blowing is a shaping technique used extensively to produce most plastics films and bags for packaging applications. The effect of processing parameters on the physical properties of blown films was investigated. The extruded films were characterized through mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The manufactured films showed satisfactory mechanical and thermal properties, thus polyethylene-collagen hydrolizate blends appears as promising candidate for the production of innovative material suitable for production of thermoplastic items for applications in packaging and agricultural segments.
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Ballerini, Tosca, Nathalie Chaudon, Marc Fournier, Jean-Paul Coulomb, Bruno Dumontet, Eléonore Matuszak, and Justine Poncet. "Plastic pollution on Durance riverbank: First quantification and possible environmental measures to reduce it." Frontiers in Sustainability 3 (August 17, 2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2022.866982.
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Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing issues of our time, with negative impacts on natural ecosystems, human health, and the climate system. The identification of top litter items discarded in the environment is essential to prioritize environmental policies to prevent plastic leakage and promote a circular economy. Here, we present the first quantification of macrolitter on three sites along Durance riverbank and one site on Lake Serre-Ponçon's beach, in the Région SUD–Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, southeastern France. Data were collected through citizen science between 2019 and 2020 in three sampling occasions (autumn, winter, spring) on Durance riverbank and in 22 occasions on Lake Serre-Ponçon. A total of 25'423 litter items were categorized, of which 82% were plastics. Single-use plastic items correspond to 8.13% of total, while single-use plastic bottles are among the top 10 litter items at each site. Median litter abundance across all samples is 2,081 items/100 m survey, two orders of magnitude higher than European precautionary threshold value for marine litter (20 items/100 m survey). The majority of items (74.83%) were small and non-identifiable. Pieces of polystyrene, soft plastics and rigid plastics represented the majority of litter items in total (56.63%) and at S1 (89.28%), S2 (58.95%) and S3 (79.60%). Glass pieces corresponded to 15.83% of total litter items. Soft plastic pieces are the most abundant litter category overall and correspond to 58.85% of litter items at sampling site along Durance riverbank located in an agricultural zone, suggesting their source from agricultural plastic mulch films. Among the identifiable items, the most abundant were plastic biomedia used in waste water treatment plants and single-use beverage bottles in plastic and in glass. The development of extended producer responsibility schemes for plastic mulch films and plastic biomedia and of deposit return schemes for single-use beverage bottles is suggested as a way to prevent leakage in the environment. This work confirms the opportunity to use citizen science to gather relevant data on macrolitter items and to monitor the effectiveness of environmental regulations to reduce plastic pollution.
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Cheryl Hogue. "California mandates recycling of many single-use plastic items." Chemical & Engineering News, July 14, 2022, 17. http://dx.doi.org/10.47287/cen-10025-polcon3.
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Vince, Joanna, Estelle Praet, John Schofield, and Kathy Townsend. "‘Windows of opportunity’: exploring the relationship between social media and plastic policies during the COVID-19 Pandemic." Policy Sciences, November 15, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11077-022-09479-x.
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AbstractPlastic pollution has reached a crisis point due to ineffective waste management, an over-reliance on single-use plastic items and a lack of suitable plastic alternatives. The COVID-19 Pandemic has seen a dramatic increase in the use of single-use plastics including ‘COVID waste’ in the form of items specifically intended to help stop the spread of disease. Many governments have utilised COVID-19 as a window of opportunity to reverse, postpone or remove plastic policies off agendas ostensibly in order to ‘flatten the curve’ of COVID-19 cases. In this paper, we use novel methods of social media analysis relating to three regions (USA, Mexico and Australia) to suggest that health and hygiene were not the only reasons governments utilised this window of opportunity to change plastic policies. Beyond the influence of social media on the plastics agenda, our results highlight the potential of social media as a tool to analyse public reactions to government decisions that can be influenced by industry pressure and a broader political agenda, while not necessarily following responses to consumer behaviour.
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Troya, María Del Camino, Orla-Peach Power, and Kathrin Kopke. "Is It All About the Data? How Extruded Polystyrene Escaped Single-Use Plastic Directive Market Restrictions." Frontiers in Marine Science 8 (February 14, 2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.817707.
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The Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 72/2019/904 is the main legislation governing plastic pollution, inclusive of marine plastic pollution in the European Union (EU). The Directive has issued market restrictions on several single-use plastic products which contribute to marine plastic pollution, including foamed polystyrene products made of expanded polystyrene (EPS). However, extruded polystyrene (XPS) which is commonly used in the same single-use plastics products as EPS has been omitted from the market placement restrictions within the scope of the Directive. This has subsequently compromised the Single-Use Plastics Directive’s effectiveness for reducing marine plastic pollution and hinders the efforts of related EU instruments such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Descriptor 10 toward achieving Good Environmental Status across the marine environment in the EU. This paper provides some background on EPS and XPS, and discusses plastic pollution policy making in the EU, while further addressing the role of quantitative data in the European Joint Research Centre’s Technical Report on Top Marine Beach Litter Items in the EU for the formulation of policy regulating foamed polystyrene derived marine plastic pollution. We also provide an overview of how the communication gaps in the polymer science nomenclature for polystyrene may have contributed to the development of misnomers for extruded and EPS, consequently compromising necessary data gathering efforts. Our perspective hopes to incite conversations on communication gaps between scientists and policy makers and emphasise the need for gathering quantitative disaggregated data on the foamed polystyrene market to inform European plastic pollution legislation adequately.
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Alves, Joana, Fiona A. Sargison, Hanne Stawarz, Willow B. Fox, Samuel G. Huete, Amany Hassan, Brian McTeir, and Amy C. Pickering. "A case report: insights into reducing plastic waste in a microbiology laboratory." Access Microbiology, October 14, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000173.
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Single-use plastics have often replaced more sustainable materials in microbiology laboratories. Keeping in mind that one of the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is responsible consumption and production, we wanted to document how many single-use plastic items could be saved by taking reduction and reuse approaches in a microbiology laboratory. After taking 4 weeks to document the baseline levels of single-use plastic waste being generated in our laboratory and identifying ways to reduce our reliance on them, we implemented various reduction and reuse approaches and then documented our plastic use over a 7-week period. Reduction approaches included moving to sustainable materials, such as reusable wooden sticks for patch plating and metal loops for inoculation. Reuse approaches focused on reusing plastic tubes via a chemical decontamination station and autoclaving, facilitating the reduction of single-use plastics and a decrease in the amount of waste generated. By utilizing reduction and reuse strategies, which could be implemented in other microbiology laboratories, substantial single-use plastic savings were achieved. These savings had an impact on the amount of biohazard waste being autoclaved and incinerated, as well as generating substantial cost savings for the research institute. The reductions in waste documented in this study could act as a benchmark for others wanting to implement the changes described.
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Northen, Stephanie Lucky, Laura Karoliina Nieminen, Serena Cunsolo, Steven Kator Iorfa, Keiron Philip Roberts, and Stephen Fletcher. "From shops to bins: a case study of consumer attitudes and behaviours towards plastics in a UK coastal city." Sustainability Science, January 30, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-022-01261-5.
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AbstractUnderstanding the use behaviours of plastic items within households is important to enable informed policy development, particularly with the emerging and developing global plastic treaty. A survey of 400 permanent residents in Portsmouth aimed to identify the general trends in single-use plastic product (SUPP) use and disposal, and their personal motivations and barriers to reducing and recycling plastic. This included identifying common influencers of attitudes such as environmental values, situational characteristics, psychological factors and the individual demographic characteristics of residents. Key factors in consumer behaviour were found to be product availability, affordability and convenience. Often, less conveniently recycled plastics more frequently end up in landfill such as films, shopping bags and personal care items. The age of respondents was found to be the most significantly associated demographic with SUPP consumption, reuse and recycling behaviours. Other demographic variables such as a resident’s location within the city, income and vehicle ownership were potential drivers influencing individual attitudes and their incentives towards reducing and recycling their plastic waste. The findings from this study brought to light the importance of effective local plastic governance. This study also identified consumer perceptions and behaviours that could contribute to future holistic plastic policy recommendations.
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Rasheed, Fawzia N., and Gijs Walraven. "Cleaning up plastics in healthcare waste: the transformative potential of leadership." BMJ Innovations, September 15, 2022, bmjinnov—2022–000986. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjinnov-2022-000986.
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This article argues that plastics ought to be included under the category of ‘hazardous’ healthcare waste and suggests that health professionals should strive for alternatives as part of their mission to improve health. The focus of this paper is on replacing, rather than recycling, plastics. The rationale for this stance stems from the unbridled escalation of plastics use, the fact that few countries have significant recycling capacity, and because the process of recycling as well as the end products of recycled plastics remain hazardous to health and the environment.Issues related to incinerated plastic, plastics in single-use items, plastic blister packs and containers for medicines, as well as plastics which are unrelated to healthcare but which nevertheless make up a substantial part of general healthcare waste are discussed. Suggestions are put forward to dramatically reduce plastics in all such cases.To support needed reforms and to guide best practice for single-use plastics in particular, a call for a reliable reference source is made—similar to the Essential Medicines Lists, which would share updated information on the most problematic items in use and environmentally friendly alternatives in each case.It is argued that concerted action by health professionals to improve healthcare waste, beginning with plastics, would send much needed market signals to industry to produce environmentally-friendly products for healthcare and would likely lead to solutions for domestic waste, too.
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Lima, Lais R., Rafaela F. Gutierrez, and Sandra A. Cruz. "Challenges in the context of single-use plastics and bioplastics in Brazil: A legislative review." Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy, November 18, 2021, 0734242X2110555. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242x211055548.
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Plastic has been present in our lives for the past century as an essential material for many commodity items. However, the same properties that make plastic convenient are also responsible for the current dramatic environmental pollution. As an alternative, most of the world has been working with technological innovations, and one of its strategies is the use of bioplastics. Despite being considered environmentally beneficial by some people, there are still developments and discussions that need to be made. This article aims to present a legislative review and discusses the difficulty in implementing policies related to the incentive of the bioplastics market, as well as presenting some state and municipal laws, already prohibiting single-use plastics in Brazil. These laws aim to encourage the substitution of these plastics for biodegradable ones. However, it still has gaps and a lack of clarification on how the banning of disposable plastics and their substitution will be beneficial since composting is still an incipient process in the country. It is also the purpose of this article to discuss the challenges in the context of the Circular Economy, as well as the potential solution based on the creation of public policies aimed at improving waste management, in addition to clearer legislation on alternatives to single-use plastics.
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Savva, Katerina, Xavier Borrell, Teresa Moreno, Ignacio Pérez-Pomeda, Carlos Barata, Marta Llorca, and Marinella Farre. "Cytotoxicity Assessment and Suspected Screening of Plastic Additives in Bioplastics of Single-Use Household Items." SSRN Electronic Journal, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4188439.
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