It is important to recognize that removal efforts alone cannot solve the plastic problem and that they fail to address the scale or wider issues of plastic pollution. The only sustainable, safe, long-term, and effective solution to the global plastics crisis is to significantly reduce, simplify and detoxify plastic polymers and products, and to establish and implement measures to prevent their release to the environment along their full life cycle. In the transition towards this goal, targeted removal of existing plastic pollution and remediation of environments contaminated with legacy plastics and associated chemicals is necessary to mitigate the detrimental impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health, and to restore natural habitats and their functions.
This policy brief outlines key environmental, economic, social and transparency factors to consider in the removal of existing and legacy plastic pollution.
Read and download the policy brief here:
Authors: Gunhild Bødtker, Patrick O’ Hare, Trisia Farrelly and Melanie Bergmann
It is estimated 12.7 million metric tons (MT) of plastics enter the environment as microplastics every year, the main sources being paint, tyres, pellets, textiles and personal care products. There are substantial additional quantities from the fragmentation of larger items of plastic that have already entered the environment as debris. The following document is part[…]
It is estimated 12.7 million metric tons (MT) of plastics enter the environment as microplastics every year, the main sources being paint, tyres, pellets, textiles and personal care products. There are substantial additional quantities from the fragmentation of larger items of plastic that have already entered the environment as debris. The following document is part[…]
It is estimated 12.7 million metric tons (MT) of plastics enter the environment as microplastics every year, the main sources being paint, tyres, pellets, textiles and personal care products. There are substantial additional quantities from the fragmentation of larger items of plastic that have already entered the environment as debris. The following document is part[…]
It is estimated 12.7 million metric tons (MT) of plastics enter the environment as microplastics every year, the main sources being paint, tyres, pellets, textiles and personal care products. There are substantial additional quantities from the fragmentation of larger items of plastic that have already entered the environment as debris. The following document is part[…]
Document highlighting what the independent science shows is needed to achieve an effective plastics treaty. Science-based priorities for negotiators at INC-5.2 (EN) Prioridades basadas en la ciencia para los negociadores en INC-5.2 (ES) Priorités basées sur la science pour les négociateurs à la CIN-5.2 (FR)