The rise and demise of plastic shopping bags in Chile – Broad and informal coalition supporting ban as a first step to reduce single-use plastics

Cristi, María Amenábar; Holzapfel, Camila; Nehls, Medina; Veer, Diamela De; Gonzaléz, Camila Pichón; Holtmann, Geraldine; Honorato‐Zimmer, Daniela; Kiessling, Tim; Muñoz, Ailin Leyton; Reyes, Soledad Narváez; Núñez, Paloma Eza; Sepúlveda, José Miguel; Vásquez, Nelson; Thiel, Martín

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.105079

Cited by 40 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Of the articles, 56% referred to international news, with national and regional news represented by 23% and 21% respectively ( Figure 1a). In 2017, national news represented 38% of the information, in line with the project to legislate a ban on the use of single-use plastic bags in coastal cities of the country in order to mitigate marine contamination (the law was finally enacted for the entire national territory and officially published in August 2018; see Amenábar Cristi et al, 2020). Plastic-related issues were mostly related to society and marine ecosystems, which represented 54% and 39% of the news respectively ( Figure 1b).…”

Section: Plastic Concern In Chilean Mediamentioning

confidence: 88%

“…We should create different frameworks in order to restrict the use of disposable plastics in some activities. High public awareness exists (Amenábar Cristi et al, 2020;Bronfman et al, 2015), and also an initial willingness from the Chilean Government, as is reflected in recent laws oriented to tackle the plastic pollution problem. Science must provide united and robust information to shape the changes required to tackle plastic pollution at the national level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The plastics industry in Chile started in the 1930s, mainly focused on the use of Bakelite; after the 1950s, melamine was incorporated for producing panels and covers. In 1970, the petrochemical industry started in the country (Chapman, 1992), with a growing number of factories for ethylene manufacturing (Amenábar Cristi et al, 2020).…”

Section: Plastic Production and Disposal In Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the 1980s and 1990s, the expansion of supermarkets and the retailing sector played a major role introducing plastic packaging on large scales (Amenábar Cristi et al, 2020;Faiguenbaum, Berdegué, & Reardon, 2002). According to the Asociación de Industriales del Plástico, Chile exported 70,700 tons of raw materials (resins) and 76,300 tons of manufactured products mainly to other South American countries in 2016.…”

Section: Plastic Production and Disposal In Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The enactment of Law 21.100 seems to be the result of the growing number of ordinances from municipal councils that promoted the ban of single-use plastic bags in supermarkets and stores. Although this law came with some political stumbling blocks, as plastic producers quickly opposed the measure, Chile has become the first Latin American country to regulate the use of single-use plastic bags by the general public (AmenábarCristi et al, 2020). The effectiveness of these laws, however, relies heavily on society as the final users/enforcers, and so users/consumers must first be conscious of the problem and willing to change in order to have the expected positive impact.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

Urbina

Luna‐Jorquera²,

Thiel³

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Marine plastic pollution is worse than expected, and we are starting to realize its full extent and severity. Solving the plastic pollution problem is not easy, as it requires the action and commitment of all sectors of our society. With a coastline extending over 4,000 km (from 18 S to 56 S), Chile is a maritime country, and since plastics are potentially harmful for marine and coastal ecosystems, food security, and public health, plastic pollution is a real threat. 2. Chile is the sixth-largest exporter of seafood (fish, invertebrates, and algae) in the world, but the extent of plastic contamination of marine organisms, its potential effects on commercial species and aquaculture, and its subsequent effects on human health are mostly unknown. 3. Chile has recently introduced some legislation to prevent plastics from reaching the environment and the coastal ocean. Governmental and non-governmental organizations have joined an informal alliance to take action against plastic pollution, both at a national and regional level, but stronger involvement of producers and commerce is required for effective measures. 4. Chilean scientists working on plastic pollution have created the Scientific Plastic Pollution Alliance of Chile network, aiming to promote collaborative and coordinated research focused on this pollutant. The wide geographical extent of Chile, with researchers working in diverse ecosystems, provides a unique opportunity to better understand the consequences of one of the most recent and severe threats to biodiversity. 5. Rather than solely presenting the plastic pollution problem from the scientific perspective, this paper includes views from different sectors of society. Mitigating plastic pollution is exceptionally complex, with this study highlighting the importance of local engagement, media, solving social inequities, new legislation, and law enforcement in order to advance on decreasing plastic pollution from a country-wide perspective.

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Section: Plastic Concern In Chilean Mediamentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plastic Production and Disposal In Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plastic Production and Disposal In Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

Urbina

Luna‐Jorquera²,

Thiel³

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Media coverage, attention cycles and the governance of plastics pollution

Bailey

2022

Env Pol Gov

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Fluctuations in media and public attention create major challenges for the governance of environmental problems but detailed investigations of how issue‐attention cycles affect environmental governance processes remain limited. This article addresses this gap using a literature analysis to examine the effects of issue‐attention cycles on policy responses to plastics pollution. It explores trends and features of media coverage of plastics, their influence on public pressure for action, linkages between shifts in attention and measures to govern plastics at the international, national, sub‐national and corporate levels, and options to utilise issue‐attention cycles to support greater action on plastics. The review indicates that heightened media coverage has encouraged greater public engagement with plastics overall but that elements of media reporting raise questions about the coherence and longevity of public pressure for change. Links between attention peaks and increased policy activity also remain unclear, though some policy‐makers have used peaks to inject momentum into policy processes and initiate longer‐term reforms that buffer policy against declining interest. Alongside these techniques, new framings emphasising the economic, social and health impacts of plastics may assist in extending concern and pressure for action. The article concludes by arguing the need to deepen understandings of the properties of attention cycles for different environmental problems and their implications for governance efforts.

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Resilient Oceans: Policies and Practices to Protect Marine Ecosystems

Iandolo

Acuti²

2021

Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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The rise and demise of plastic shopping bags in Chile – Broad and informal coalition supporting ban as a first step to reduce single-use plastics

Cited by 40 publications

References 55 publications

A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

Media coverage, attention cycles and the governance of plastics pollution

Resilient Oceans: Policies and Practices to Protect Marine Ecosystems

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