GGSD 2017 Parallel Session B - Presentation by Richard Thompson
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Plastic pollution in the oceans is a global environmental problem without easy solutions. While plastics are useful materials, 60 years of production and behaviors that encourage throwing plastics away have led to their accumulation in the environment. Potential solutions include redirecting plastic waste from entering the oceans, blocking drainage holes that allow plastic to flow into waterways, and cleaning up existing plastic pollution. However, the drivers of plastic use and different proposed solutions like bioplastics may have conflicting impacts on both resource use and waste generation. Guidance is needed on standards for biodegradable plastics and ensuring solutions follow an appropriate hierarchy of reuse, recycling and compostability over alternatives like bioplastics that do not necessarily reduce litter or waste in the environment
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GGSD 2017 Parallel Session B - Presentation by Richard Thompson
- 1. Source: B Frymire Plastic in the Oceans Are there solutions to this global environmental problem? Richard Thompson, Plymouth University, UK
- 2. Shoreline and sea surface, Pacific
- 3. Seabed, Mediterranean, 1000m Photo credit: F. Galgani, IFREMER
- 4. 2 mm Photo credit: Browne/Thompson Microplastic, UK
- 5. Economic consequences Source: H Barber
- 6. Hazard to mariners Source, KIMO
- 7. Consequences for wildlife Source: C Jordan Harmful to wildlife
- 8. Lightweight Plastics as materials are not the problem Durable
- 9. Inexpensive Versatile Plastics as materials are not the problem
- 13. 60 years of research and development 60 years of behavioural training - to throw away
- 14. Redirect the flow Block the holes Clean up
- 15. Redirect the flow Block the holes Clean up
- 16. Source: Thompson & Napper Solution: design products for life and end-of-life EPR to minimise accumulation of plastic waste
- 17. Potentially conflicting drivers Can bioplastics reduce litter / waste? Resource IN Waste OUT ‘This new packaging is fully recyclable, and is said to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 25% over the product lifecycle.’
- 18. Can biodegradables reduce litter impacts? Resource IN Waste OUT ‘ (EN 13432, ASTM D6400-99) = pre shredded plastic degrades in commercial composting plant in 180 days, 56 – 71 ºC, 50-60% humidity, aerobic, pH 7-8 Potentially conflicting drivers
- 19. Jambeck et al. 2015 Plastic debris cumulative Oceans could contain 250 million tonnes by 2025
- 21. 1) Guidance on standards / relevance in this context (e.g. biodegradability standards) (EN 13432, ASTM D6400-99) = pre shredded plastic degrades in commercial composting plant in 180 days, 56 – 71 ºC, 50-60% humidity, aerobic, pH 2) Guidance on the appropriate hierarchy of measures (they are not all equivalents) ‘’Ensure plastic packaging is designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable’’ ‘’Pledge of 70% recycling by 2025’’ …..where does bioplastic fit? Potential contributions from OECD
- 22. Richard Thompson - Thank you https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/marine-litter
Editor's Notes
- From space still a blue planet
- But on closer inspection Sea surface and shorelines heavily contaminated with marine litter, mostly plastic, even in the remotest parts of the plant
- 20 km offshore Marseille/Mediterranean , canyon of Panier , Depth 1000 m, Picture from submersible CYANA In some areas of the deep sea more plastic than in the widely p reported pacific garbage patch
- Some items so large they can be seen form space but the most numerous items are the microplastics Some just microns in size and likely that smaller nano plastic debris is also present.
- Clear evidence of economic cost just to keep key areas like tourist beaches, ports and harbours clean UK municipalities spend approximately €18 million each year removing beach litter; a 37% increase in cost over the past 10 years. Similarly, removing beach litter costs municipalities in the Netherlands and Belgium approximately €10.4 million per year. One of the major economic issues driving the need for clean-up operations is the aesthetic impact on tourist beaches
- Can lead to loss of life
- Over 700 species encounter marine litter, many encounters harmful , some fatal Over 90% of encounters are with plastic litter 10% of reports by species are encounters re with microplastics including ingestion by commercially important species of fish and shellfish
- But litter in the sea is a symptom of the problem and plastics as materails are not the problem
- Many benefits
- Different to many other challenges discussed at this meeting In most cases environmental challenge is directly like to the benefit wanted by society Fish to eat + less fish in the sea Tourist development of land = les natural habitat Not so for plastics the problems and the benefits are NOT directly coupled Its possible to have the benefit without the problem
- Exponential increase in production
- M 40% is production of disposable / single use items
- So why are we in this mess? Single use items rapidly accumulate as waste and are dominant in marine litter
- How to solve Clean up - not effective and we would have to do it for ever Block the points of entry – they are many and varied Best option to divert flow of waste away form sea
- Synergy with waste management on land Plastic, and single use plastic main item of waste. Some is escaping to the environment as litter If we can better capture in recycling this reduces waste generation, reduces potential to escape as litter and reduces reliance on fossil oil/ gas reserves as carbon source
- Challenges to have design for life and end of life Microbeads in cosmetics - not needed? Release of fibre I form textiles can be altered significantly by textile choice Design of bottles to facilitate actual recovery in recycling
- Carbon sustainability versus waste Nothing to do with waste in sea or on land – not about biodegradable Circular economy visa recycling also sustainable Not biodegradable
- Labelling and product design Compatibility
- If we do nothing litter in the sea set to increase dramatically
- This is where some consumers see the future But this denies us the benefits of plastic There is a better future with a plastic - reduces food waste but EPR urgently needed
- More in formation and papers free to download on our web site