Marine plastic pollution is one of the most urgent challenges that humanity currently faces, since the presence of plastics in the ocean is constantly increasing and these materials have the potential to harm ecosystems, directly interfering with a healthy quality of life for humans and other living beings. The effects of plastic pollution on the ecosystem services provided by the seas and on their biodiversity also demonstrate the economic burden that marine plastic pollution represents, so there is a pressing need to search for alternatives in order to promote a transition from the linear model “produce-consume-dispose” to a more sustainable one. Circular economy strategies, then, emerge as a viable solution for overcoming this crisis. Its potential to deal with plastic pollution has even been recognized by the international community, especially from 2022, with the adoption of United Nations Resolution 5/14 “Ending plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment”. This resolution, by noting that plastic pollution – in marine and in other environments – must be addressed through a whole lifecycle approach, calls for a needed transition towards circular economy. This article, through a theoretical, bibliographical, descriptive, exploratory, and qualitative research, has the main goal of demonstrating that adopting circular economy strategies can close the loop in plastic lifecycle and prevent them from reaching the ocean. Based on insights from the current negotiations for the future plastics treaty, on international policies and on the literature, it is proposed that a transition towards a harmonized circularity framework for plastics encompasses justice and inclusion, being able to support ocean resilience.

1. Introduzione 2. Lotta all’inquinamento marino da plastica in diversi contesti: il ruolo centrale dell’oceano per lo sviluppo sostenibile 2.1. Una panoramica sull’assenza di norme sufficienti per affrontare la crisi dell’inquinamento marino da plastica; le lacune del diritto internazionale 2.2. Nuovi approcci e soluzioni a sfide urgenti: il contenuto della Risoluzione 5/14 3. Trasformazioni strutturali: la ricerca di alternative da un modello lineare ad uno circolare 3.1. Progettare un’economia circolare per la plastica: il confronto tra le diverse posizioni nei negoziati per il futuro trattato 3.2. Sfide per garantire una transizione equa e inclusiva: quali strategie per la circolarità? 4. Considerazioni conclusive

L'economia circolare nei negoziati per un trattato globale sulla plastica: verso un approccio integrato per affrontare le crisi ambientali

Adriana Isabelle Barbosa Sá Leitão Di Pasquale
2024-01-01

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution is one of the most urgent challenges that humanity currently faces, since the presence of plastics in the ocean is constantly increasing and these materials have the potential to harm ecosystems, directly interfering with a healthy quality of life for humans and other living beings. The effects of plastic pollution on the ecosystem services provided by the seas and on their biodiversity also demonstrate the economic burden that marine plastic pollution represents, so there is a pressing need to search for alternatives in order to promote a transition from the linear model “produce-consume-dispose” to a more sustainable one. Circular economy strategies, then, emerge as a viable solution for overcoming this crisis. Its potential to deal with plastic pollution has even been recognized by the international community, especially from 2022, with the adoption of United Nations Resolution 5/14 “Ending plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment”. This resolution, by noting that plastic pollution – in marine and in other environments – must be addressed through a whole lifecycle approach, calls for a needed transition towards circular economy. This article, through a theoretical, bibliographical, descriptive, exploratory, and qualitative research, has the main goal of demonstrating that adopting circular economy strategies can close the loop in plastic lifecycle and prevent them from reaching the ocean. Based on insights from the current negotiations for the future plastics treaty, on international policies and on the literature, it is proposed that a transition towards a harmonized circularity framework for plastics encompasses justice and inclusion, being able to support ocean resilience.
2024
BARBOSA SÁ LEITÃO DI PASQUALE, ADRIANA ISABELLE
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/1270307
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