The research presented in this report demonstrates that there is no single universally applicable reuse system. Instead, reuse systems should be tailored to the business sector and socio-economic context. The research proposes the transition to reuse, in which reusable packaging can become the new norm. The findings from this study suggest that the transition to reuse systems can begin immediately in settings that require the least infrastructure change, the least new investment, and the least consumer behaviour change, such as closed systems. The review also highlights that the importance of global reuse standards is critical, as the absence of standards inhibits investment and allows only fragmented approaches to persist, thus preventing small businesses from engaging in larger-scale reuse systems. The Global Plastics Treaty presents a key opportunity to lay the foundations of reuse systems. Reuse standards should emphasize health and safety, data collection, and the standardisation of reusable packaging. Furthermore, policy developments should be consumer-focused, aligned with supply chains, and respect the need for a just transition. More broadly, the Global Plastics Treaty can provide a framework for reuse to evolve as a key tool to tackle plastic pollution while building economic, social, and environmental resilience.
This paper characterizes the fungal and bacterial colonizers of 5 types of plastic films (High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, and Polyethylene Terephthalate) throughout a 242-day incubation in the south-eastern Mediterranean and relates them to the chemical changes observed on the surface of the samples via ATR-FTIR. Neither bacterial nor fungal community structures were related[…]
This paper provides insights into the sustainable alternatives that can replace conventional plastic mulches, such as biodegradable mulches made from natural fibers and biopolymers. The microscopic and FTIR analyses conducted during the study showed the degradation of the fibers from the mulches during the exposure time to a certain extent. The nonwoven mulches provide higher[…]
This paper investigates the degradation of biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate/polylactic acid (PBAT/PLA) and traditional polyethylene (PE) plastic under two typical abiotic conditions: ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and mechanical abrasion (MA) for up to nine months. The quantitative analysis of the degradation products was carried out using membrane filtration and total organic carbon determination (MF-TOCD). The results[…]
This paper identifies technological innovation, policy formulation, advocacy and sensitization, and bioremediation as some of the approaches that are currently used for the mitigation of plastic pollution in Nigeria. This chapter also highlights the need to encourage, enhance, and disseminate scientific research on mitigating the harmful effects of plastic pollution in Nigeria. It concluded with[…]
This review provides insights into the sources of microplastics, the ecotoxicity of microplastics, and the impact microplastics have on aquatic and marine life, management, and bioremediation of microplastics. Policies and strategies adopted by the government to combat microplastic pollution are also discussed in this review. Microplastics tend to accumulate in many aquatic systems, contaminate them,[…]