New publication: A sustainable future for plastics considering material safety and preserved value
Have you been thinking about the large-scale changes which are required in the way we make, use and dispose of plastics to mitigate plastic pollution in the future? Martin Wagner and I have in our recent comment published in Nature Reviews Materials
external pageCheck out the full publication here, published in Nature Reviews Materials. Authors: Denise M. Mitrano and Martin Wagner
The positive benefits afforded by the widespread use of plastics need to be reconciled with negative impacts on the environment and health across the entire plastics life cycle. Optimizing the balance in several facets of plastics production, use and waste management is necessary for a more sustainable relationship with these materials in the Anthropocene.
Key considerations and principles to create a sustainable future for plastics. The balance in several facets of plastics production and use needs to be optimized. Feedstock selection, materials optimization and product design are all underpinned by economic incentives to valorize plastic waste (for example, through a circular economy). In addition, material simplicity and safety need to be promoted.