Micro-consumerist bollocks in the fight against plastic pollution: when good intentions - and regulatory initiatives - go awry

Abstract

Plastic pollution has emerged in recent decades as one of the most pressing issues of environmental concern. However, most of the regulatory and legislative initiatives aimed at curtailing this problem have centered on measures that have very limited impact on the overall prevalence of these materials in all environmental compartments. The minimal influence of these initiatives has been due to their often limited and minor effects on the overall production, use and waste management of plastics. Additionally, the onset of the 2019 global pandemic has resulted in many of these measures being put on hold or cancelled altogether, resulting in increasing levels of plastics in the environment and significantly hampering the combat against plastic pollution. This perspective focuses on microplastics, given their pervasiveness and potential ecological, environmental, and health effects. The sectors and industries contributing the most to this pollution are reviewed and assessed from a societal and environmental perspective. Effective regulatory tools are suggested to help reduce plastic emission levels into the environment.

Keywords

Plastic / microplastic / pollution / regulatory initiatives / laws

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