Affiliations 

  • 1 Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), CGSS, Level 5, Hamzah Sendut Library (new wing), 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: circularity.usm@gmail.com
  • 2 UNIDO Regional Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UNIDO Joseph Stein Lane Lodhi Gardens, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, 110003, India. Electronic address: r.vanberkel@unido.org
J Environ Manage, 2021 Jan 01;277:111457.
PMID: 33045648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111457

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution (MPP) is an urgent environmental and socio-economic problem. MPP amounts to 300 million tons annually, originates largely from land-based sources and severely impacts marine ecosystem, harms livelihoods and causes costs for businesses and governments. Plastics permeate the whole width and depth of seas and oceans, near well-developed coastal zones and equally in remotest corners. This undermines economic and social value of the oceans, particularly in terms of fisheries productivity and tourism. The G20 members, responsible for about two-thirds of global plastic waste, recognize the problem and undertake preventive measures - individually and collectively. Yet, are there efficient, effective and sufficient given the urgency of MPP and the contribution of G20 countries. This article highlights existing policies and identifies further policy options using a custom framework for MPP policy that merges Circular Economy (CE) and life-cycle perspectives.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.