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Recognizing the long-term impacts of plastic particles for preventing distortion in decision-making

Author

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  • Nathalie Gontard

    (INRAE, French Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, UMR 1208 IATE)

  • Grégoire David

    (INRAE, French Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, UMR 1208 IATE)

  • Alice Guilbert

    (Tsinghua University
    University of Geneva)

  • Joshua Sohn

    (SDU)

Abstract

There is a considerable knowledge gap regarding the long-term fate of plastics in the environment. Acknowledging this gap, in the context of life cycle assessment methods, is critical to account for the long-term fate of plastics in the decision-making process. Ignoring the long-term potential for environmental and health damage from plastic particles makes it difficult to defend a quantitative environmental assessment comparing fossil-based conventional plastics with other alternative materials. This Review highlights that the addition of a plastic particulate footprint as a midpoint impact indicator in life cycle assessments should be considered to quantify these overlooked long-term impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathalie Gontard & Grégoire David & Alice Guilbert & Joshua Sohn, 2022. "Recognizing the long-term impacts of plastic particles for preventing distortion in decision-making," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(6), pages 472-478, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:5:y:2022:i:6:d:10.1038_s41893-022-00863-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-00863-2
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