Marine plastic waste

Olubukola Tokede and Isaac Akinwumi

Chapter 108 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 401-404 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The global plastic pollution crisis poses significant environmental, social, and economic challenges. With annual plastic production exceeding 350 million metric tonnes, substantial waste, including 1.7 million tonnes entering oceans, highlights inadequate regulations, poor waste management, and reliance on single-use plastics. Plastic production, driven by low costs and high profit margins, supports essential industries such as packaging and construction but exacerbates pollution and resource depletion. Single-use plastics, with their short lifespan, dominate waste streams. Recycling infrastructure remains underfunded, with global recycling rates insufficient to curb pollution. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) offers a comprehensive framework to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of plastics, emphasizing mitigation strategies such as increased recycling, bioplastics, and end-of-life energy recovery. Proactive measures, including reduced single-use plastics and expanded recycling efforts, are critical to mitigating near-permanent environmental contamination, safeguarding ecosystems, and addressing global sustainability goals. Further research is needed to support effective policy and local interventions.

Keywords: Plastic waste; Plastic pollution; Single-use plastic; LCSA; Recycling; End of Life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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