TY - RPRT
T1 - Indicators for plastic pollution
AU - Vorkamp, Katrin
AU - Ryberg, Morten
AU - Fauser, Patrik
AU - Bach, Lis
AU - Linnebjerg, Jannie Fries
AU - Strand, Jakob
PY - 2023/7
Y1 - 2023/7
N2 - Plastic losses to the environment can occur at all stages of plastic production, use and disposal. Once in the environment, plastics occurs in a variety of shapes, size classes and polymers, including dynamics such as accumulation on beaches, breakdown from macro- to microplastics, and uptake in biota. Addressing plastic pollution requires reliable indicators. This study has analysed existing indicators along the plastic value chain and in the environment, including frameworks aiming at circular economy and plastic reuse and recycling. The main part of plastic losses is macroplastic, with an important source being the mismanagement of plastic waste. Thus, this would be a relevant indicator, but it is difficult to measure directly. Environmental indicators exist, which are complementary, but badly connected to upstream indicators in the plastic value chain. Furthermore, important plastic components lost in the value chain and present the environment, respectively, such as tyre abrasion and fishing gear, are not approached consistently. A lack of harmonization, e.g. in reporting units, prevents more consistency in the indicator approach. The report also includes some suggestions of potentially relevant new indicators, such as container losses, ghost nets and microplastics in wastewater.
AB - Plastic losses to the environment can occur at all stages of plastic production, use and disposal. Once in the environment, plastics occurs in a variety of shapes, size classes and polymers, including dynamics such as accumulation on beaches, breakdown from macro- to microplastics, and uptake in biota. Addressing plastic pollution requires reliable indicators. This study has analysed existing indicators along the plastic value chain and in the environment, including frameworks aiming at circular economy and plastic reuse and recycling. The main part of plastic losses is macroplastic, with an important source being the mismanagement of plastic waste. Thus, this would be a relevant indicator, but it is difficult to measure directly. Environmental indicators exist, which are complementary, but badly connected to upstream indicators in the plastic value chain. Furthermore, important plastic components lost in the value chain and present the environment, respectively, such as tyre abrasion and fishing gear, are not approached consistently. A lack of harmonization, e.g. in reporting units, prevents more consistency in the indicator approach. The report also includes some suggestions of potentially relevant new indicators, such as container losses, ghost nets and microplastics in wastewater.
M3 - Report
SN - 978-87-7156-774-8
T3 - Scientific Report from DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy
BT - Indicators for plastic pollution
PB - Aarhus University, DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy
ER -