Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution
To avoid a massive build-up of plastic in the environment, coordinated global action is urgently needed to reduce plastic consumption; increase rates of reuse, waste collection, and recycling; expand safe disposal systems; and accelerate innovation in the plastic value chain.
Abstract
<jats:title>A mess of plastic</jats:title> <jats:p> It is not clear what strategies will be most effective in mitigating harm from the global problem of plastic pollution. Borrelle <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> and Lau <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> discuss possible solutions and their impacts. Both groups found that substantial reductions in plastic-waste generation can be made in the coming decades with immediate, concerted, and vigorous action, but even in the best case scenario, huge quantities of plastic will still accumulate in the environment. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6510" page="1515" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="369" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aba3656">1515</jats:related-article> , p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6510" page="1455" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="369" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aba9475">1455</jats:related-article> </jats:p>