Environmental sustainability and plastic waste
This IGCSE global perspectives individual report, written for an undergraduate level 3-4 course in environmental science using MLA citation style, examines the environmental and social impacts of plastic waste, with a focus on single-use plastics and their implications for ecosystems and human health. It references authoritative sources such as WHO reports and scientific journals to discuss the causes of plastic pollution and analyze its consequences. The individual report example explores potential solutions including regulatory measures, sustainable alternatives, and recycling technologies. The paper's author reflects on both systemic and individual levels of action. This IGCSE report serves as a useful reference for students studying environmental issues, illustrating the use of an interdisciplinary approach to solve diverse environmental problems, integrating insights from environmental science, economics, and sociology.
November 3, 2024
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
Surname 1
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Individual Report: Environmental Sustainability and Plastic Waste
Introduction
Plastic waste management has become one of the most modern-day pressing issues due to
rising environmental concerns. More precisely, it is about the effects of single-use plastics on
ecosystems and human health. The following report takes a closer look at plastic waste's
impact on the environment and social life, focusing on why it has remained a problem and
how mitigation measures have gone so far. By analyzing diverse research on plastic pollution,
viable alternatives, and policy measures, I seek to develop an individual perspective on
feasible solutions towards lessening the environmental impact of plastic waste.
Source Evaluation
The sources used for this research consisted of a mixture of peer-reviewed journal articles,
government reports, and news sources from reputable outlets. The 2019 WHO report on
microplastics in drinking water was pretty enlightening as far as health hazards go. Moreover,
research articles from Environmental Science & Technology gave insights into the ecological
impact of microplastics. Realizing that my sources may be biased, I have cross-referenced my
information against other works from Greenpeace and NOAA, better-equipped organizations
in environmental matters.
Surname 2
Image 1: Plastic waste in natural habitats (Kumar et al., 2021)
Impact of Plastic Pollution
Plastic waste is extremely harmful to the environment. Approximately 8 million metric tons
of plastic are released every year into the oceans, disrupting marine ecosystems and putting
biodiversity under threat. Generally, plastics released into the environment can take many
centuries to degrade; they break down into microplastics ingested by wildlife, thus affecting
marine food chains. As of 2020, microplastics in 80% of marine species. This results in
digestive blockage and disruption of hormones as part of the adverse effects (World Health
Organization).
On land, plastics contaminate the soil by leaching chemicals into the earth and back
into food supplies. A World Health Organization report warns that these chemicals can have
adverse health effects; this is most particularly likely in areas of low incomes where waste
management systems may not be fully developed (World Health Organization). Given the
breadth of impact, the problem of plastic pollution requires intervention now on a wide-scale
basis.
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Image 2: Chart showing a breakdown of plastic waste by product type to illustrate
predominant sources of pollution (Kumar et al., 2021)
Causes of Plastic Waste
Different reasons may be identified as to why plastic waste is persistent. First, plastic
materials are cheap to make and versatile; hence, they cannot be replaced in packaging and
everyday items. Besides, the recycling systems are still at rudimentary levels; only 9% of
plastics globally are recycled. According to Alassali et al. (2021), this is partially because
different types of plastics are hard to recycle, thus making sorting and processing
cumbersome.
Cultural factors contribute to plastic pollution in the form of consumer habits that
favor convenience and disposability. To begin with, packaging materials made of plastic
continue to dominate packaging not for reasons of high price but due to the generally durable
properties of the material in question, despite its drawbacks in ecological terms (Tsuchimoto
& Kajikawa, 2022). Therefore, plastic waste is not just a question of technology but one
related to consumption and economic powers.
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Potential Solutions
Policymakers and environmental groups are calling for alternatives and more regulation to
solve the crisis. In 2021, the European Union implemented a ban on several single-use plastic
products, such as straws and cutlery, in an effort to stem the tide of plastic waste (Alassali et
al., 2021). Regulatory measures of this kind are crucial, but they must be scaled up and
broadened in their scope.
From an economic point of view, consumers should also adapt to sustainable
alternatives such as reusable bags and biodegradable materials. Additionally, investment in
advanced recycling technologies can be widely undertaken in order to improve plastic
recovery rates (Tsuchimoto & Kajikawa, 2022). Enterprises such as Loop Industries are on
the frontline in chemical recycling towards the treatment of mixed plastics into reusable raw
materials. Indeed, such innovations represent a promising avenue for reducing plastic
pollution (Alassali et al., 2021).
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Image 3: Diagram of the circular economy model for plastics to illustrate the sustainable
approaches to waste management(Kumar et al., 2021).
Conclusion and Reflection
In consideration of the above evaluation, there is the realization that both personal action and
systemic change have their places when it comes to plastic waste. It does take stringent
policies by governments and corporations, yet consumer choices do make some difference.
My conviction from research has always been that moving toward sustainable plastic
management requires a combination of regulatory measures, public awareness, and
technological advancement.
Research sensitized me to the degree to which plastics saturate contemporary life and
showed the complexity of any eventual shift toward more sustainable alternatives. While I
did find many promising inventions, I realized that social behavior and cultural values were
as much an essential part of making change last.
Primarily, the processes of reduction in plastic waste have to be multidisciplinary in
nature, consisting of environmental science, economics, and sociology. Addressing such
dimensions will provide a pathway for societies towards sustainability, free from plastic
pollution.
Surname 6
Works Cited
Alassali, Ayah, et al. “Towards Higher Quality of Recycled Plastics: Limitations from the
Material’s Perspective.” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 23, 30 Nov. 2021, p. 13266,
https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313266.
Kumar, Rakesh, et al. “Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable
Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy
Interventions.” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 17, 2021, p. 9963. mdpi.
Tsuchimoto, Ichiro, and Yuya Kajikawa. “Recycling of Plastic Waste: A Systematic Review
Using Bibliometric Analysis.” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 24, 7 Dec. 2022, p. 16340,
https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416340.
World Health Organization. “Microplastics in Drinking-Water.” Www.who.int, 20 Aug. 2019,
www.who.int/news/item/20-08-2019-microplastics-in-drinking-water.
November 3, 2024
24/7 custom essay writing by real academic writers
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Academic level:
Undergraduate 3-4
Type of paper:
IGCSE report
Discipline:
Environmental science
Citation:
MLA
Pages:
3 (936 words)
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
