A plastics hierarchy of fates: sustainable choices for a circular future

Kristoffer Kortsen; Siobhan Kilbride; Stephen Lowe; Adam Peirce; Michael Shaver

doi:10.48550/arXiv.2303.14664

A plastics hierarchy of fates: sustainable choices for a circular future

Kristoffer Kortsen, Siobhan Kilbride, Stephen Lowe, Adam Peirce, Michael Shaver

Research output: Preprint/Working paper › Preprint

Abstract

Plastics are ubiquitous in modern society, but the linear model of produce, use, and dispose results in massive amounts of resource consumption and pollution. Landfill and incineration of plastic waste is endemic, with no consensus on a clear path towards a more sustainable model. Progress is often hampered by a lack of clarity on what choices will enable a more sustainable circular plastics economy. Our Plastics Hierarchy of Fates tool addresses this by bringing together scattered information on the end-of-life fates of plastics in a more accessible format. This tool will support manufacturing, processing, and policy decisions in the push for a more sustainable future. Potential sorting and recycling decisions for plastics waste are discussed in the hierarchy and the consequences of different decisions are highlighted. The hierarchy is meant to inform potential outcomes but can also be used to help shape future interventions.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	ArXiv
Publisher	Cornell University
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2303.14664
Publication status	Published - 26 Mar 2023

Publication series

Name	ArXiv
Publisher	Cornell University
ISSN (Print)	2331-8422

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.48550/arXiv.2303.14664Licence: CC BY

1 Finished

One Bin to Rule Them All
Shaver, M. (PI), Holmes, H. (CoI) & Sharmina, M. (CoI)
1/11/20 → 31/01/24
Project: Research

2 Commissioned report

Policy Brief: Waste Management
Kortsen, K., O'Hare, P., Arp, H. P., Nøklebye, E. & Shaver, M., 19 Oct 2023, Zenodo.
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report › peer-review

Open Access
File

141 Downloads (Pure)
Tackling household plastic waste: best practice for a circular economy
Holmes, H., Shaver, M., Holmes, T. & Kortsen, K., 2023, Manchester: Zenodo. 1 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

OneBin
Shaver, M. (Participant), Holmes, H. (Participant), Sharmina, M. (Participant), Holmes, T. (Participant), Kortsen, K. (Participant) & Adelekan, A. (Participant)
Impact: Economic, Environmental, Policy, Awareness and understanding, Attitudes and behaviours, Society and culture

Cite this

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title = "A plastics hierarchy of fates: sustainable choices for a circular future",

abstract = "Plastics are ubiquitous in modern society, but the linear model of produce, use, and dispose results in massive amounts of resource consumption and pollution. Landfill and incineration of plastic waste is endemic, with no consensus on a clear path towards a more sustainable model. Progress is often hampered by a lack of clarity on what choices will enable a more sustainable circular plastics economy. Our Plastics Hierarchy of Fates tool addresses this by bringing together scattered information on the end-of-life fates of plastics in a more accessible format. This tool will support manufacturing, processing, and policy decisions in the push for a more sustainable future. Potential sorting and recycling decisions for plastics waste are discussed in the hierarchy and the consequences of different decisions are highlighted. The hierarchy is meant to inform potential outcomes but can also be used to help shape future interventions.",

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A plastics hierarchy of fates: sustainable choices for a circular future

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

One Bin to Rule Them All

Research output

Policy Brief: Waste Management

Tackling household plastic waste: best practice for a circular economy

Impacts

OneBin

Cite this