The Life Cycle Initiative proposed by the United Nations Environment Programme has played a significant role in plastic pollution control, in line with the slogan "BeatPlastic Pollution" for the 50th World Environment Day on June 5, 2023.
At the first pre conference meeting of the Ministerial Informal Meeting on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution, member states made a request to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Life Cycle Initiative (hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency) to provide technical guidance to representatives on the use of life cycle methods in the context of plastic pollution.
Life cycle approach to plastic pollution
Addressing plastic pollution and marine litter requires a new way of thinking that examines the entire lifecycle of plastics. The lifecycle approach of plastics considers plastic products/goods/services (and their substitutes) at every stage of their lifecycle, from raw material extraction, secondary material processing, product manufacturing, distribution, maintenance and use, to end-of-life management. The lifecycle approach also helps to address potential trade-offs between environmental impact and sustainability pillars, and can select the best solutions for environments with the best socio-economic impact.
Key elements of a lifecycle approach to address plastic pollution
1. Scientific foundation, quantitative analysis
The lifecycle approach provides a scientifically based quantitative understanding of the environmental impact of plastics throughout their entire lifecycle. The practice of using lifecycle thinking ensures that a specific environmental impact does not simply transfer to other issues. On the contrary, it provides an overall outlook on the environmental impact of the product throughout its entire lifecycle. For example, our research suggests that disposable plastic packaging products typically have a greater impact on the environment compared to reusable models. The United Nations Environment Programme has been releasing a meta-analysis of life cycle assessments of the best alternatives to different types of disposable plastic products, such as shopping bags, bottles, food delivery packaging, cups, cutlery, diapers, and menstrual products.
2. Action Plan
The development and implementation of action plans by regional and national governments to address plastic pollution and marine litter is one of the most effective ways to tackle this issue. The content of the Action Plan is best provided by a national source list, which may in turn be provided by national hotspot analysis, as described in this article. The Environmental Agency has been collaborating with several countries to develop action plans. In addition, the Environmental Agency has been encouraging governments around the world to take action within the scope of the Global Commitment to the New Plastic Economy, jointly led with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
3. Scientifically formulated goals
Targets for reducing plastic pollution should be established based on scientific standards. The Hotspot Guide provides a scientific method for identifying key areas that the government needs to improve. These hotspots can include key polymer types that need to be addressed, the most negative stages of the lifecycle, and specific regions of the country with the most severe leaks. Once the key areas that need improvement are identified, goals can be set. These goals can serve as indicators of the effectiveness of a project or policy. The above figure shows some indicator examples.
4. Scientific Financing Guidelines
Solving the problems of plastic pollution and marine litter requires redesigning the plastic economy. The current situation is that disposable plastic products are considered a necessary commodity, easy to produce, and consumers can dispose of them almost effortlessly. It is the convenience of plastic that makes changing the way things are done challenging. However, legislation can encourage plastic producers and retailers to be more responsible in managing the plastic they bring to the economy. This will require them to make certain investments or financing to propose innovative sustainable solutions that reduce the impact of plastic on the environment. One of the policies being implemented in different countries is the extended producer responsibility program. Enterprises involved in the lifecycle of plastics are required to pay certain fees. The accumulated collection amount will be invested in different solutions to address plastic pollution issues.
5. Building upon existing initiatives
Efforts to address plastic pollution require joint efforts from the international community. Multiple global initiatives have been put in place and have gained momentum in the past few years. One of today's major initiatives is the Global Commitment to a New Plastic Economy, jointly led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme. The vision of the Global Commitment endorses the lifecycle thinking and circular economy of plastics. More than 500 companies and governments have signed the Global Commitment and committed to taking concrete actions in three major areas: eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging, innovating plastic products, and circulating plastic products to keep them in the economy and away from the environment.