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Falk-Andersson J, Rognerud I, De Frond H, Leone G, Karasik R, Diana Z, Dijkstra H, Ammendolia J, Eriksen M, Utz R, Walker TR, Fürst K. Cleaning Up without Messing Up: Maximizing the Benefits of Plastic Clean-Up Technologies through New Regulatory Approaches. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:13304-13312. [PMID: 37638638 PMCID: PMC10501118 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
As the global plastics crisis grows, numerous technologies have been invented and implemented to recover plastic pollution from the environment. Although laudable, unregulated clean-up technologies may be inefficient and have unintended negative consequences on ecosystems, for example, through bycatch or removal of organic matter important for ecosystem functions. Despite these concerns, plastic clean-up technologies can play an important role in reducing litter in the environment. As the United Nations Environment Assembly is moving toward an international, legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution by 2024, the implementation of plastic clean-up technologies should be regulated to secure their net benefits and avoid unintended damages. Regulation can require environmental impact assessments and life cycle analysis to be conducted predeployment on a case-by-case basis to determine their effectiveness and impact and secure environmentally sound management. During operations catch-efficiency and bycatch of nonlitter items, as well as waste management of recovered litter, should be documented. Data collection for monitoring, research, and outreach to mitigate plastic pollution is recommended as added value of implementation of clean-up technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Idun Rognerud
- Norwegian Institute
for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hannah De Frond
- University
of Toronto Trash Team, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
- Ocean Conservancy, Washington, D.C. 20036, United States
| | - Giulia Leone
- Ghent University, Research Group
Aquatic Ecology, Coupure
links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Flanders
Marine Institute, (VLIZ), InnovOcean Site, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400, Ostend, Belgium
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Aquatic Management, Havenlaan 88, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
- Research
Foundation − Flanders (FWO), Leuvenseweg 38, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rachel Karasik
- Nicholas
Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Zoie Diana
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the
Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina 27708, United States
- Integrated Toxicology
and Environmental Health, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Hanna Dijkstra
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije
Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1111, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Justine Ammendolia
- School
for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Marcus Eriksen
- The 5 Gyres Institute, Los Angeles, California 90409, United States
| | - Ria Utz
- Sciences Po Paris, 27, rue Saint-Guillaume, 75007, Paris, France
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Tony R. Walker
- School
for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Kathinka Fürst
- Norwegian Institute
for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
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Diana Z, Reilly K, Karasik R, Vegh T, Wang Y, Wong Z, Dunn L, Blasiak R, Dunphy-Daly MM, Rittschof D, Vermeer D, Pickle A, Virdin J. Voluntary commitments made by the world's largest companies focus on recycling and packaging over other actions to address the plastics crisis. One Earth 2022; 5:1286-1306. [PMID: 36465566 PMCID: PMC9718439 DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has caused significant environmental and health challenges. Corporations that contribute to the make, use, and distribution of plastics can play a vital role in addressing global plastic pollution and many are committing to voluntary pledges. However, the extent to which corporation voluntary commitments are helping solve the problem remains underexplored. Here we develop a novel typology to characterize voluntary commitments to reduce plastic pollution made between 2015-2020 by 974 companies including the top 300 of the Fortune Global. We find that 72% of these companies have made commitments to reduce plastic pollution. About 67% of companies participating in voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) and 17% of non-VEPs participants made measurable and timebound commitments. However, rather than tackle virgin plastics, most companies target general plastics and frequently emphasize end-of-life controls with a primary focus on recycling. Growing commitments on plastic pollution are made by large and important companies, but significantly more efforts beyond plastic recycling are required to effectively address plastic pollution challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoie Diana
- Duke University, Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly Reilly
- Duke University, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rachel Karasik
- Duke University, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tibor Vegh
- Duke University, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yifan Wang
- Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zoe Wong
- Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren Dunn
- Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Robert Blasiak
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Meagan M. Dunphy-Daly
- Duke University, Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel Rittschof
- Duke University, Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel Vermeer
- Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amy Pickle
- Duke University, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - John Virdin
- Duke University, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Goldstien JH, Harmon J, McGhee PE, Karasik R. Test of an information-processing model of humor: physiological response changes during problem- and riddle-solving. J Gen Psychol 1975; 92:59-68. [PMID: 1113088 DOI: 10.1080/00221309.1975.9711328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Heart rate and skin conductance were monitored continuously while subjects heard and responded to seven riddles and seven problems which were structurally similar. Hypotheses based on cognitive problem-solving models of humor were tested by comparing changes occurring during problem solving with those that occurred during "riddle solving". While heart rate tended to accelerate once a riddle or problem was presented and decelerate once the answer or punch line was given, there were significant differences in skin conductance between riddle- and problem-solving responses, suggesting that a purely problem-solving model of humor may be untenable. A test of Berlyne's hypothesis of arousal change and humor appreciation was also made. As predicted, humor appreciation was greatest for those who showed a moderate amount of change.
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