The Strengths and Weaknesses of Pacific Islands Plastic Pollution Policy Frameworks

Abstract

The rate of plastic pollution entering the environment is accelerating with plastic production predicted to increase by 40% over the next decade. Plastic pollution transcends territorial boundaries on ocean and air currents. Large Ocean Small Island Developing States (LOSIDS) are on the frontline of the plastics crisis and associated climate change impacts. This desktop gap analysis identified potential strengths and weaknesses in national policy frameworks in 52 key documents relevant to plastic pollution in ten Pacific LOSIDS. The study found considerable gaps in the vertical and horizontal integration of plastic pollution-related policy, and a lack of access to current science-based evidence on plastic pollution including evidence related to human health impacts and microplastics. The study concludes that, even if Pacific LOSIDS were to include best practice management of plastic pollution across all policy frameworks, they could not prevent plastic pollution, and that a plastic pollution convention is needed.

Plastics pollution as waste colonialism in Te Moananui

“…This may initially seem incongruous with our aims, as many Indigenous thinkers rightly point out that strengthened policy is more about harm reduction than an anticolonial theory of change, as it does not result in social nor environmental justice for Indigenous peoples (Murphy 2020;Whyte 2018;Ngata 2019). The point to make here, however, is that while this research follows from a policy gap analysis conducted by Farrelly, Borrelle & Fuller (2021), it was undertaken precisely to understand and center the perspectives and experiences of Te Moananui peoples in a global policy environment with a long and enduring history of silencing Indigenous voices. Here, our focus has been on learning what the challenges and solutions are from Indigenous peoples, rather than merely learning about Indigenous peoples (Jones and Jenkins, 2014).…”

“…Moananui nations are currently ill-equipped to manage the costly and harmful impacts of this problem, which is huge in magnitude and externally generated, although there is action at multiple levels of governance to prevent plastics pollution, for example, through the implementation of single-use plastic bans (Farrelly, Borrelle & Fuller, 2021). However, enormous challenges remain, and the main policy deficit does not lie with Te Moananui.…”

Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities

“…For all island communities around the world, the collection and reduction of rural waste is a key component to future island waste management strategies [287]. Poor transport infrastructure to remote rural communities makes it more difficult to connect such rural sites to recycling facilities [288]. Poor accessibility and limited waste management facilities combined with increasing plastic waste flows feed contamination of marine environments [227].…”

Mechanical Properties and Tensile Model of Hemp-Fiber-Reinforced Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Composite

“…Although polymer science has gradually matured, many challenges still existed, including issues of sustainable development and environmental pollution [ 3 ]. In order to limit and improve the “white pollution” caused by the plastics industry, countries around the world have issued increasingly stringent “plastic limit orders” [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. As people paid more and more attention to green chemical processing, more attention was paid to the development and application of polymer materials with better environmental affinity [ 7 , 8 ].…”