Assignment | Terrestrial and Marine Plastic

Running head: Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic
Pollution Impacts and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
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1
Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Purpose
It is undisputable that plastics have revolutionized lives of several people globally.
Plastics can be classified as “single-use plastics” or “disposable plastics” which are plastics that
are meant to be used once before they are disposed or recycled (ACT Government, 2019). The
wide usage of plastics is in doubt associated with both positive and negative effects as they
constitute the largest ratio of global plastic production (OECD, 2019).These single use plastics
from their production process to their dumping contribute to pollution in one way or another. The
objective of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of banning the single-use plastics. This will
be done by examining various studies that relates single-use plastics in relation to their negative
impacts.
Background
As already stated, plastic packaging contribute the largest proportion of plastic
production. The single-use material for instance constitutes approximately 26% to 36% of the
global plastic and this trend is projected to rise (ACT Government, 2019). Some of the common
types of unneeded, avertable or expendable single-use plastic items include; items plastic bags,
straws, bottles, lids, and cutlery. By the nature of their use, many of these single-use plastics are
designed to be disposed immediately after one use. ACT Government (2019) adds that their very
short use, usually coupled with the inability to be recycled, makes single-use plastic to be costly
and damaging to the environment.

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
According to OECD (2019), early forms of plastics were already in existence during the
mid-19th century and since then; plastics have gradually become one of the earth’s most
unremarkable materials. Worldwide plastics production hit 407 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa)
by 2015which exceeded even the production of paper, fish and aluminium which have 400 Mtpa,
200 Mtpa, and 57 Mtpa respectively. However, if this production trend continues to rise at that
rate, then plastics production in 2050 will reach 1 600 Mtpa. Barra et al. (2018) adds that future
plastics production is pictured to double up by 2035 and almost to increase fourfold by 2050.
Crippa et al. (2019) add that with an entire earth’s production of 335 million metric
tonnes in 2016, plastics have indisputably become the most voluminous anthropogenic materials
after steel and concrete. From the beginning of the plastics’ mass production in the 1950s, about
8 300 million tonnes of plastics has been produced (Crippa et al. 2019). In spite of the huge
societal benefits, it is approximated that almost 5 800 million tonnes of plastics which represents
70 % of the overall amount have become waste, where 4 900 million tonnes or 84 % has been
disposed of in the environment (Crippa et al. 2019).
It is the widespread of plastic pollution and its potential negative impacts on both human
health and ecosystems that have triggered public concerns globally. Agreement on the fate of
plastic pollution is thus crucial for foretelling its sources, its zones of accumulation, and even its
consequences (Crippa et al., 2019)

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Negative Impacts of Plastic Use on the Environment
Human Health
Galloway (2014) posits that given that widely and currently used plastic are polymers,
they are extremely resistant to degradation and this inflow of persistent and complex materials is
a danger to environmental and human health. Uninterrupted daily interaction with items made of
plastic allows for exposure to chemical components that may result to the widespread presence
of chemicals associated with plastics in the human body. Undiscriminating plastic disposal
allows plastic wastes to penetrate ecosystems, with the possibility of contaminating the food
chain (Galloway, 2014; ACT Government, 2019). Barra et al. (2018) adds that some plastics
have toxic chemical additives like chlorinated furans that have been associated with health issues
like mental diseases, cancer, and developmental and reproductive diseases.
Additives which change the nature of the final plastic such as pigments, plasticisers,
stabilisers, flame retardants, and fillers are usually not bound to the polymer matrix and due to
their low molecular weight; these substances can leach out of the plastic polymer into the water,
air, food or even body tissues (Galloway, 2014).
Greenhouse Gas
According to Barra et al. (2018), production of conventional plastic greatly dependent on
virgin fossil feed stocks and other resources like water such that making a kilo of plastic uses
about 185 litres of water. Production of plastic uses about 6% of global oil production, and this
trend is projected to rise to 20% by 2050. Plastic-related greenhouse gas pollution represents
about 15% of the global annual carbon budget. According to WEF et al. (2016), with about 6%

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
of global oil production committed to the plastic production, there is a considerable greenhouse
gas emission that are associated with it and sometimes even on its after-use pathway. In 2012
alone, greenhouse emissions totalled to about 390 million tonnes of CO2 for all plastics and that
the production phase leads to most of these emissions (WEF et al., 2016). These greenhouse
gases may also facilitate climate change.
Biodiversity
The effect of plastic on marine species includes entanglement and ingestion by birds,
turtles, fish and mammals. Such scenarios are well documented in various studies. According to
Barra et al. (2018), 17% of species are affected by plastic pollution and most chemicals additives
used in plastics have adverse consequences on fisheries and their habitats. On the same issue,
WEF t al. (2016) there is erosion of natural systems due to leakage in the ocean with not less
than 8 million tonnes of plastics being leaked into the ocean annually. WEF et al. (2016) add that
there is currently an estimated 150 million tonnes of plastics in the ocean and that the ocean is
anticipated to hold 1 tonne of plastic for each 3 tonnes of fish by 2025 such that there will be
more plastics than fish by 2050 (by weight).
The effects of micro plastics in soils, freshwater, and sediments could have a damaging
effect on terrestrial ecosystems via adverse effects on organisms which are required for crucial
ecosystem services and functions and these effects can last for a long time (Barra et al. 2018).
For instance, about 895 micro plastic particles per kilogram have been found in organic
fertilisers (Barra et al. 2018). OECD (2018) concludes that the use of plastics instead of materials
got from biomass in various uses can slow biodiversity loss and land-cover change.

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Economy
Nowadays, about 95% of plastic packaging materials are valued at USD 80–120 billion
annually and this amount is lost to the economy just after a short first use (WEF et al., 2016).The
rate of recycling for plastics is generally lower than for plastic packaging, and both as a
consequence have recycling rates which are far below the global recycling rates for paper, iron
and steel which have recycling rates of 58% for paper and about70% to 90% for both iron and
steel(WEF et al., 2016). According to ACT Government (2019), plastics have economic value
which is lost when they are disposed.
The Response
The aforementioned issues pertaining to plastic use and environmental impact have
demanded action and the formulation of policies that are aimed at ensuring responsible use and
accountability through banning or recycling. Most countries have passed laws that ban the use of
plastics that are designed to be used only once. For instance, Canada in 2018 banned the use of
50 microns or less single use plastic bags while France in 2016 banned all single-use plastic
shopping bags (ACT Government, 2019). Other developing nations such as Kenya and Rwanda
have also made some policies banning single-use plastics. Generally, banning these single-use
plastics will imply that people will have to forego benefits associated with plastic industries.

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Positive impacts of plastics
Available in low rates
The positive impacts of plastics cannot be denied by the society. Merging the excellent
functional properties with low cost has made the plastics so advantageous that there is likely to
be a rise in their global production volume (Crippa et al., 2019). Plastics can cheaply be
manufactured and their nature of lightweight and adaptability makes it applicable to myriad uses
in all aspects of daily life such as in food packaging, medical devices, consumer products, and
construction (Galloway, 2014; WEF et al., 2016; OECD, 2018). ACT Government (2019) adds
that plastic play key role in everyday lives as it is used in a broad range of applications as a
cheap option for manufacturing option. The usage of plastics in the protecting food that are
consumed, ensuring that medical equipment are kept clean and germ-free, and in making cars
and planes lighter, helps in saving fuel and lowering greenhouse gas emissions (OECD, 2018;
ACT Government, 2019).Higher concentration of plastics also affects tourism (OECD, 2018).
The availability of plastics in such low rates makes it accessible to even the poorest of people
and makes their life much convenient than it used to be.
Automobile industry
Plastics has revolutionised the lives of people and helped raise the level of various
industries, one such industry which benefitted to a great extent from plastics is the automobile
industry. Lightweight plastics are required for the manufacture of fuel efficient vehicles which
are high in demand today. Light weight plastics make vehicles lighter and with every 10%

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
decrease in the weight of the vehicles the consumption of fuel goes down by 7% which is a
significant amount (Koniuszewska and Kaizmar, 2016). Fuel efficient vehicles become the need
of the hour with increasing concerns for environment. The use of plastics in the automobile
industries to make more efficient, light weight car parts, has doubled during the last 25 years.
Through the adoption of metal replacement with lightweight plastics the automobile industry is
benefitted in a lot of ways. It increases the long life of vehicles, its durability, vehicle safety and
automotive designs.
Use in medical industry
Whole of the medical industry is helped by the plastic that are used in medical devices
(Mckeen, 2014). The use of plastics has benefitted the medical industry in various ways. To
solve the problem of MRI machines attracting every metal that’s in its range, today, every
equipment that surrounds the MRI machine is made of plastic. High tech polymers are used in
the medical field to produce new and more improved artificial limbs for the handicapped
patients. The risk of infection has been considerably reduced with the development of
disposable delivery devices made out of plastic and has made patients safer and healthier.
Versatility of plastics
Plastics are versatile in nature and because of their cheap production they can be made
with respect to their different uses. Plastics are so versatile that they are used widely in different
industries and even in different domestic and technical uses. From food packaging to storage,
plastics have become a part and parcel of our life. Plastics have made life so convenient that it is
hard to imagine life without it at all. The durability of plastics has made their use and application

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
more versatile. Plastic bags are more durable than paper bags and can withstand more pressure.
Use of lightweight plastics can make the cars more durable and safe for use.
Possible ways to solve the problem
Education and awareness of the general public
A national or global problem cannot be solved without educating the general public about
it. There should be proper advertisement which informs the public about the crisis that is faced
by the overuse of plastics. The ads will make people aware of the negative impacts of the using
plastics on a large scale and this will help them use plastic more responsibly. The government
should plan different informative programs in schools to make the children aware of these issues.
Biodegradable bags
Biodegradable bags have become a breakthrough in recent times. places like Kenya,
Rwada, France, Morocco and Taiwan are few of the many places that are using biodegradable
bags. Recently New York proposed charge on all plastic bags that are used in the city (Romer
and Tamminer, 2013). Many developing countries are also trying to minimise the use of plastics
in their country (Ghanbarzadeh and Almasi, 2013). The idea of biodegradable plastic has yet not
been very popular because many countries have failed to manufacture them in good quality. The
biodegradable bags are not very durable and this makes it less popular among people. Another
reason why biodegradable bags are not popular among people is, because they are well aware of
the benefits of biodegradable bags.

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Research Strengths and Gaps
Most of the resources in this paper have given estimate figures which appear to be
consistent throughout. Similarly, the resources have mostly dwelled on the adverse impacts of
plastic on the environment. Crippa et al. (2019) acknowledges that there are still several
knowledge gaps in the effects of plastics on society since there are technological limitations for
potential solutions. The existing knowledge is somehow too precluding assessing the risks of
plastics to the environment.
Conclusion
The paper has discussed in depth issues surrounding plastic. It has been seen that plastic
has economic advantage as well as repercussions in its usage. The most significant negative
consequences associated with plastic use are its pollution on the water bodies, environment and
even to human body. A solution to address these challenges has to be invented and one of the
appropriate methods is to impose ban on the plastics. Besides ban policy, there are
recommendations that can be used to address these challenges associated with plastics. OECD
(2018) recommends that improved waste management systems through facilitation of higher
rates of waste collection and recycling would allow for the capturing of waste plastics before
they start to create challenges to the natural environment.

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Publishing
details
Year
Biophysical
Socio- economic
Other of
interestBenefits
(of
banning)
Disadvantag
es (of
banning)
Benefits
(of
banning)
Disadvantages
(of banning)
1. ACT
Governme
nt
2019 People
will end
up not
being
contamina
ted with
chemicals
associated
with
plastics
A lot of
money
will be
saved
since
most
plastics
are not
recyclabl
e
Plastics assist
in daily
human
activities like
ensuring that
medical
equipment are
kept clean and
we’ll forego
these benefits
2. Barra et
al.
2018 Water and
environme
ntal
Jobs will be
lost

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
pollution
will
reduce
3. Crippa et
al.
2019 Human
diseases
associated
with
plastics’
toxic
chemicals
will be
reduced
People
will save
on
wastage
of money
on plastic
dumping
Benefits
associated
with plastics
will be
reduced
4. Galloway 2014 Plastics
are
resistant
to
degradatio
n thus
poses risk
to human
and
Plastics can
be
manufactured
cheaply as
compared to
other
alternatives

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
environme
ntal health
5. OECD 2018 Pollution
rates will
be
reduced
on
waterbodi
es and the
environme
nt
People will
resort to
biomass
products
which will
slow
biodiversity
and land-
cover
change
Tourism
will rise
due to
reduced
pollution
Human will
forego
economic
benefits
associated
with plastics
6. WEF et al. 2016 Plastic
production
is
associated
with
emission
of
greenhous
e gas
A lot of
money is
lost to the
economy
due to
single use
plastics
People will
forego some
economic
benefits of
plastics

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
7. Ghanbarza
deh &
Almasi,
(2013).
8. Koniusze
wska &
Kaczmar,
(2016).
9. McKeen,
(2014).
10. Rome
&
Tamm
inen,
which
may
facilitate
climate
change
It will
provide an
alternate
to using
plastic
Provides
lightweigh
t vehicles
Made
medical
science
easier
It will
minimise
plastic
waste
Provide
efficient
vehicles
Plastics
have cut
down
medical
costs
It will not be
convenient for
everybody
Uses plastics
that pollutes
environment
Encourages
plastic use

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
(2013) Minimises
use of
plastic
bags
Discoura
ge use of
plastics
and
reduce
pollution
Unconvinienc
e to a lot of
people
References
ACT Government (2019). Phasing out single-use plastics Discussion paper,
www.tccs.act.gov.au, ISBN 978-0-642-60683-9
Barra, R., Leonard, S.A., Cowie, A., Ratner, B. et al. (2018). Plastics and the circular economy,
A STAP document.
Crippa, M., De Wilde, B., Koopmans, et al. (2019). A Circular Economy For Plastics: Insights
From Research And Innovation To Inform Policy And Funding Decisions, 2019 (M. De Smet &
M. Linder, Eds.). European Commission, Brussels, Belgium, doi:10.2777/269031

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Banning Single Use Plastics as A Response to Terrestrial and Marine Plastic Pollution Impacts
and to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions from Plastics Production
Galloway, T.S. (2014). Chapter 13 Micro- and Nano-plastics and Human Health,
Ghanbarzadeh, B., & Almasi, H. (2013). Biodegradable polymers. Biodegradation-life of
science. InTech Publications, Croatia, 141-186.
Koniuszewska, A. G., & Kaczmar, J. W. (2016). Application of polymer based composite
materials in transportation. Progress in Rubber Plastics and Recycling Technology, 32(1), 1-24.
McKeen, L. W. (2014). Plastics used in medical devices. In Handbook of polymer applications in medicine
and medical devices (pp. 21-53). William Andrew Publishing.
OECD (2018).Improving Plastics Management: Trends, policy responses, and the role 88of
international co-operation and trade.
Romer, J. R., & Tamminen, L. M. (2013). Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinances: New York City's
Proposed Change on All Carryout Bags as a Model for US Cities. Tul. Envtl. LJ, 27, 237.
World Economic Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation and McKinsey and Company (2016). The
New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics
http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications