Contemplating Plastic Solutions - Outlining Possible Routes Forward
In the realm of modern applications, the issue of plastic waste remains a significant concern, impacting both the environment and human health. However, innovative solutions are emerging to address this "wicked problem," requiring changes in thinking and behavior.
One such solution is the use of advanced recycling technologies. For instance, chemical recycling, such as the industrial-scale recycling of PET, promises infinite, high-quality reuse by breaking plastics down to their molecular components without quality loss. Enzymatic recycling and advanced mechanical recycling are also being explored to improve circularity. Technological advances like pyrolysis, which turns plastic into fuel, and depolymerization processes, which break plastics down to their basic building blocks, are crucial steps forward.
On a systemic and policy level, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are proving effective. These schemes shift financial and environmental responsibility for plastic waste from governments to producers, with Plastic Credits serving as a results-based finance tool to incentivize investment in inclusive and effective waste management. Leveraging EPR fees collected predominantly in high-income countries to fund recycling infrastructure in lower-income countries is a practical approach.
Alliances like the Alliance to End Plastic Waste are focusing on addressing hard-to-recycle materials like flexible plastics, catalyzing capital through innovative financing and partnerships to scale impact, and prioritizing national efforts in countries like India, Indonesia, and South Africa.
In the educational sphere, the study of plastics offers a rich opportunity for students to explore science concepts, technological knowledge, socio-scientific issues, and the nature of science. Teachers can leverage resources like the Hub, which groups learning materials into key science and teaching concepts related to plastic, for context-based learning. The Hub's resources combine conceptual understanding with capabilities development, making learning engaging and relevant.
Citizen science projects, such as litter surveys, provide opportunities for students to gather and interpret data about plastic use and its impact. The Sea science and plastic collection offers ideas on how to help students learn more about plastic litter and the marine environment. Thinking about how we use plastic enables students to engage with science in a real-life context, offering pathways for changing behaviors.
New Zealand science organizations, such as Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, have created resources to help rethink plastic. For example, the Royal Society Te Apārangi resource, "Plastics in the environment - understanding plastic waste in Aotearoa," includes useful infographics and reports about the country's plastics problems.
Moreover, the Biopolymer Network and Barnes Plastics have developed a sustainable alternative to polystyrene called ZealaFoamTM. This potential solution to the wicked problem of plastic use underscores the importance of continued research and innovation in this area.
In conclusion, the combined efforts of technological innovations, systemic financial and policy tools, and educational initiatives represent the forefront of modern strategies to reduce plastic waste and build a circular economy for plastics worldwide. By engaging students in the study of plastics, we can foster the next generation of problem-solvers and change-makers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle this complex issue.
Science and technology are essential components of the solutions being developed to combat climate-change and environmental-science issues, particularly with regard to plastic waste. For instance, advances in data-and-cloud-computing have facilitated research into breakthrough recycling technologies, such as chemical, enzymatic, and mechanical recycling, as well as pyrolysis and depolymerization processes. These innovations are critical steps towards building a circular economy for plastics and reducing their impact on the environment and human health.
