Solutions to plastic pollution

How to reduce plastic waste?

The mass of plastic detritus present in the oceans is so enormous that it is called the “7th continent”. At this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050. What causes plastic pollution? And most importantly, what are the possible solutions to reduce and prevent it?

01. Definition

What is plastic pollution?

Plastic pollution is caused by the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. It can be categorized in primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, or secondary plastics, resulting from the degradation of the primary ones. It can also be defined by its size, from microplastics - small particles (less than 5 mm) of plastic dispersed in the environment - to macroplastics.
Plastic pollution can take different forms including:

  • The accumulation of waste
  • The accumulation of marine litter, fragments or microparticles of plastics and non-biodegradable fishing nets, which continue to trap wildlife and waste
  • Waste causing the death of animals by ingestion of plastic objects
  • The arrival of microplastics and microbeads of plastics from cosmetic and body care products

02. Causes

Plastic pollution causes

Since its commercial development in the 1950s, plastic has been a real success. Its global production is growing exponentially. Its success comes from its remarkable qualities: ease of shaping, low cost, mechanical resistance, etc. Being the ideal material for packaging, plastic is basically everywhere.

But what are the causes of plastic pollution?

Negligence is the main cause. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of marine litter comes from land. This pollution comes mainly from household waste, which is poorly recycled, dumped in landfills or abandoned in nature. This waste is carried by the winds, pushed by the rains into sewers, streams, rivers, and finally in the oceans. Natural disasters such as floods must be considered as other causes of plastic pollution as well.

03. Impacts

Plastic pollution impacts

This pollution can have harmful effects on the land and rivers by affecting wildlife and habitat, but also on human health.


  • On the environment: this plastic debris represents a chemical pollution in several ways. They contain compounds that can be chemically transferred to organisms during ingestion. Some of these molecules are potentially toxic and can accumulate in the body. Besides, plastic bags also affect the growth of crops, by hindering the process of photosynthesis in agricultural fields.
  • On animals: the most direct effect of plastic pollution is the imprisonment of animals in nets or large debris. It is a cause of significant mortality of marine mammals, turtles and birds. A second direct effect is ingestion, that concerns the entire food chain of the marine ecosystem.
  • On humans: because of the chemical additives used during plastic production, plastics have potentially harmful effects on human health. Indeed, exposure to toxic chemicals coming out of plastic can cause cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity and other health problems.

04. Solutions

Plastic pollution solutions

The Solar Impulse Label is granted to innovative solutions to plastic pollution that meet high standards of sustainability and profitability. Each solution goes through a strict assessment process performed by independent experts.

Ecodeco
Jun 2022

Ecodeco

A polyolefin-based material for production of wall coverings, a sustainable replacement of PVC

  • Buildings & Constructions
Polystyvert recycling process
Nov 2023

Polystyvert recycling process

A process enabling a circular economy for plastic with virgin-like recycled resin using a dissolution technology

  • Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
MIWA reusable packaging
Jan 2024

MIWA reusable packaging

A complete business ecosystem for smart-powered reusable packaging

  • Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods
  • Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
Hipli
Aug 2021
Use case available

Hipli

A packaging service minimizing the environmental impact of e-commerce

  • Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods
View more

05. Implementations

Plastic pollution solutions implementations

Hipli by Hipli implemented by Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie des Landes in Mont-de-Marsan (France) in 2022

Hipli by Hipli implemented by Balzac Paris in Paris (France) in 2022

Retrofit for electronic infrastructure by Supercomputing Systems AG implemented by VBL - Public transportation company in Lucerne (Switzerland) in 2018

Carbios PET biorecycling by CARBIOS implemented by Longlaville in Longlaville (France) in 2025

Carbios PET biorecycling by CARBIOS implemented by L'Oréal in Clichy (France) in 2025

Carbios PET biorecycling by CARBIOS implemented by Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand (France) in 2021

Carbios PET biorecycling by CARBIOS implemented by Citeo in Longlaville (France) in 2023

Carbios PET biorecycling by CARBIOS implemented by PVH Corps in Clermont-Ferrand (France) in 2023

Carbios PET biorecycling by CARBIOS implemented by Novozymes in Longlaville (France) in 2023

Upcycling Forum by Upcycling Forum implemented by Municipality of Horsens in Horsens (Denmark) in 2020

Unicollecte by Waste Robotics implemented by City of Dunkerque in Dunkerque (France) in 2020

#tide ocean material® by Tide Ocean SA implemented by Migros in Zurich (Switzerland) in 2023

#tide ocean material® by Tide Ocean SA implemented by Relianz AG in Bonstetten (Switzerland) in 2023

EcoCore® by Bockatech implemented by Borealis in Vienna (Austria) in 2021

B:bot by GreenBig implemented by french government in Paris (France) in 2021

HolyGrail 2.0 by Procter & Gamble - P&G implemented by Decathlon in Ottawa (Canada) in 2021

06. Conclusion

Plastic pollution prevention

How to solve plastic pollution? Aside from cleaning up our oceans, which is a very significant first step but not a long-term solution, the best way to address plastic pollution is to change our mindsets and habits with this controversial but nonetheless very useful material:

  1. Reduce: to efficiently reduce plastic pollution, there is an evident need of reducing our usage of plastic. It means changing our everyday behaviors an not using plastic when there is a better alternative to it and only using plastic when strictly necessary.
  2. Reuse: plastic may cause pollution when poorly managed but it has lots of advantages too, such as being resistant. Many plastic items can therefore be reused or used for different purposes. Before throwing plastic items, it is important to consider how they can be reused.
  3. Recycle: plastic recycling consists of collecting plastic waste and reprocessing it into new products, to reduce the amount of plastic in the waste stream.
  4. Educate: another crucial solution is education in order to increase awareness and behavioral change.

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pauline.michiels@solarimpulse.com