Plastics Society. Has Plastic the Potential to be Sustainable?

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• ABSTRACT
• List of Figure
• List of Abbreviations
• 1 Plastics Society - Introduction
  • 1.1 Research Identification
  • 1.2 Definition of Sustainability
• 2 Plastics Development
  • 2.1 Plastic Facts
    • 2.1.1 Bioplastic
  • 2.2 Plastic Industry
    • 2.2.1 Packaging Industry
    • 2.2.2 Plastic Bags
  • 2.3 Waste Hierarchy
  • 2.4 Plastic Waste Markets
    • 2.4.1 Plastic Waste Management in Germany
  • 2.5 Marine Litter and Human Health Risks
  • 2.6 Problem Definition and Market Failures
• 3 Solutions for a Sustainable Development
  • 3.1 Viewpoints – Plastic Industry and European Union
  • 3.2 Classical Theory - Market Instruments
  • 3.3 Environmental Theory
    • 3.3.1 Life Cycle Assessment
    • 3.3.2 Cyclic-Economy
    • 3.3.3 Cradle-to-Cradle
    • 3.3.5 Practial Examples
• 4 Conclusion and Outlook
• LITERATURE
• APPENDIX

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper explores the widespread use of plastics and its environmental and human health consequences. It focuses on plastic carrier bags and aims to determine if the development of plastics can be considered sustainable. The paper examines the European waste hierarchy and analyzes ecological and social externalities, including market failures. It proposes solutions using market instruments and explores the Cradle-to-Cradle model as an alternative approach.

• The environmental impact of plastic production and consumption
• The sustainability of plastic development
• The role of market instruments in promoting sustainable plastic use
• The Cradle-to-Cradle model as a potential solution for plastic waste
• The European waste hierarchy and its effectiveness in managing plastic waste

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the research identification and defines sustainability. Chapter two focuses on plastics development, exploring plastic facts, including bioplastics, the plastic industry, packaging, and plastic bags. The chapter examines the waste hierarchy, plastic waste markets, particularly in Germany, and the human health risks associated with marine litter. Chapter three explores solutions for sustainable development, presenting viewpoints from the plastic industry and the European Union. It discusses classical market instruments and environmental theories like Life Cycle Assessment, cyclic-economy, and the Cradle-to-Cradle model, including practical examples.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key themes and concepts explored in this paper include plastic waste, externalities, sustainable development, market instruments, and the Cradle-to-Cradle model. The paper also examines the European waste hierarchy and its role in managing plastic waste, as well as the challenges posed by market failures in addressing the issue.