Mismanaged plastic waste: what are the environmental impacts?

In 2024, it is estimated that 69.5 million tonnes of plastic will be mismanaged and thus potentially released into the air, water, and soil in the form of macroplastics and microplastics.

Macroplastics and microplastics: what's the difference?

In April, we invited you to join our R&D project to evaluate and reduce your plastic footprints.

This month, we delve into the numbers concerning plastic waste issues, classified by size:

• Macroplastics, which are 5 millimeters or larger;
• Microplastics, which are smaller than 5 millimeters: out of the 69.5 million tonnes of mismanaged waste mentioned earlier, 12.7 million tonnes of microplastics will be released into the environment.

When we think of plastic pollution, the oceans often come to mind. However, plastic waste also impacts:

• Human health through inhalation or ingestion;
• Ecosystems through bioaccumulation in the food chain, marine species through entanglement, biological balances through the transport of invasive species, etc.;
• Human society through the accumulation of waste in areas of interest;
• Not to mention plastic additives that, once released into nature, create a toxic mix affecting both natural and human-made ecosystems.

What about companies?

Microplastic emissions occur at every stage of a product's life cycle. The principle of extended producer responsibility encourages companies that produce or use plastic to manage their products' end of life.

This is where eco-design comes in, aiming to anticipate this responsibility and reduce plastic leakage into the environment; and even eco-socio-design, ensuring that the products manufactured have the least possible impact on the environment and human societies.

How can EVEA help?

At EVEA, our teams specialize in plastic-related issues across various industries: packaging, textiles, everyday goods, and more. We even have a specific commercial offering: workshops, enhanced life cycle assessments (LCAs) considering plastic impact, plastic footprint analyses, and more.

We will detail our offering in upcoming posts. If you're eager to learn more now, contact us here. ■

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DEFINITIONS:

(1) "Mismanaged" plastic: This refers to the mass of plastic waste that is not recycled, incinerated, or stored in secure landfills. Examples include materials burned in open dumps, discarded into open water, or disposed of in unsanitary landfills.
(2) Bioaccumulation in the food chain: This refers to plastic present in the environment that accumulates in organisms (plants, animals, and microbiota) and propagates through the food chain.
(3) Marine species entanglement: Also known as entanglement, it refers to the accidental capture of species by waste, whether from fishing gear or not.
(4) Areas of interest: This includes fishing zones, tourist coastlines, and maritime routes where plastic presence results in maintenance costs (premature mechanical failures).
(5) Plastic additives: For example, plasticizers or flame retardants present in many plastic formulations to provide certain properties. The toxicity of some plastic additives is still not well understood.
(6) Anthropogenic: Related to human activity.

SOURCES:
On the millions of tonnes of "mismanaged" plastic mentioned:

• Earth Action, Plastic Overshoot Day (2024)
• Earth Action, Leakage of Microplastics into Oceans and Land (2023)
• OECD, Towards Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040 (2023)