JANUARY-FEBRUARY , 2023 | ESG
OPINION
31
Microplastics – A disastrous pollution in the ecosystem
Overall , only nine per cent of plastic waste is recycled
Fragmentation of Macroplastics to Microplastics
BY PROF DR AGAMUTHU PARIATAMBY Sector Committee for Circular Economy ( CE ) MAPAN ( Malaysian Association of Public Advocacy for Nature )
GLOBALLY , about 400 million tonnes of plastic are generated annually . It is estimated that 60 per cent of plastics generated become waste .
Plastics are very versatile and is used in many facilities , but packaging consumes about 40 per cent of the plastics generated .
Asia , particularly China , India , Indonesia and Japan , produced 51 per cent of the total global generation . The life span of plastics varies from 0.5 years for water bottles to about 35 years for construction plastics .
Maximum plastic recycling is estimated to be 14 per cent , but effectively , it is two per cent . A bulk of the plastic will end up in landfills or water bodies . Eventually , these will end up in the sea .
Annually , eight million tonnes of plastic will enter the water bodies . One of the main reasons for such a high amount of waste is the mismanagement of plastic , particularly in developing nations .
Overall , only nine per cent of plastic waste is recycled . In comparison , 22 per cent is mismanaged and consequent in uncollected litter , uncontrolled landfills , waste dumping , open burning and eventual leakage to destabilise the natural ecosystems .
MICROPLASTICS
The flow of plastic and the generation of microplastics is intriguing . The two main sources of microplastics are either the primary source of plastics generated or secondary plastics recycled .
Additionally , microplastics come from cosmetic products directly , particularly from face wash materials .
The formation of the microplastic mechanism is elaborated in the diagram . It is fragmentation caused by the physical , chemical or biological degradation of plastics
MICROPLASTICS RISK AND REMEDY
In Pearl River , Hong Kong , 342.2 billion microbeads were found . More recently , microplastics have been detected in human blood .
This has raised severe consequences and implications for human health as our body is exposed to microplastics through inhalation , indigestion and dermal contact .
The effects of microplastics in human can be translocation to distant tissues , disruption of immunity , metabolism alteration , oxidative stress , cytotoxicity , neurotoxicity , carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity .
There are many national and international regulations and guidelines to reduce plastics consumption and microplastic reduction in the air , water and blood , but the results are somewhat disappointing .
Environmental , Social and Governance ( ESG ) may be an option to enhance plastics reduction . Several related mechanisms are being explored , such as changing from linear usage to circular option .
Extended producer responsibility ( EPR ) is also being considered to enforce plastics reduction by MAREA ( Malaysian Recycling Alliance ) that promotes behavioural changes along the value chain to foster segregation , collection and recycling of packaging waste .
MAREA ’ s members include leading food and beverages brands in Malaysia like Nestle , Coca-Cola , Etika , Spritzer , Colgate Palmolive , Dutch Lady Milk , Tetra Pak , Unilever , Fraser & Neave and Modelez .
Essential actions for bending the plastic curve can be summarised into :
• Incentivise the plastics recycling market ,
• Boost innovation on circular plastic ,
• Strengthen domestic public policy ,
• Strengthen international plastics value chain cooperation to achieve net zero plastic leakage , and
• Improve national , regional and global industrial research collaboration . Informal recyclers play a vital role in reducing plastic pollution , and in India ,
Environmental , Social and Governance ( ESG ) may be an option to enhance plastics reduction . Several related mechanisms are being explored , such as changing from linear usage to circular option .”
70 per cent of PET bottles were recycled . Unlike in Thailand or the Philippines , we do not have any guidelines or regulations in Malaysia and being unregulated , market forces determine the prices of recyclables .
Over the years , several international and regional partnerships have tackled the microplastic issue in many countries at various levels of implementation .
These included Global Programme of Action ( GPA ) in 2001 , Honolulu Strategy in 2011 , Global Partnership on Marine Litter in 2012 , G7 Summit on ocean plastic charter in 2015 , UNEP- OSPAR-HELCOM in 2015 and UN Environmental Assembly ’ s Resolution on Marine Debris in 2016 .
Sustainability Developments Goals ( SDG ) of the United Nations for marine plastics debris management are also embedded in SDG 6 ( Clean water and sanitation ), SDG 11 ( Sustainable cities and communities ), SDG 12 ( Responsible consumption and production ) and SDG 14 ( Life below water ).
Undeniably , ESG can play a pivotal role in reducing the impacts of plastics and microplastics . However , we need to create awareness among citizens , especially politicians , to implement and enforce the required regulations with incentives , where possible . – ESG