Plastics
Plastics in the environment have become a global problem. To solve it, different actors such as product designers, producers, converters, retailers, consumers, recyclers, and disposal companies throughout the value chain need to work together. This calls for interdisciplinary research. Ecologic Institute is exploring various aspects of this issue, such as freshwater and marine environments, soil, recycling, water management, legal requirements, and the regulation of macro- and microplastics. Our team members have expertise on international and European plastics regulation as well as various related policy fields, such as ecotoxicology, microplastics analytics, water treatment, and recycling issues. This allows them to analyze which regulations are still missing and to provide recommendations with a view to strengthening the patchy regulatory framework for the production, use, and disposal of plastics. Ecologic Institute is also represented in fora such as the German roundtable on marine litter. Furthermore, it strengthens civic engagement via citizen science projects which involve members of the public in research.
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Selected Projects for Plastics
The EU Directive on Disposable Plastics and Fishing Gear
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Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in EU International Development Aid
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European Commission, Directorate-General Development and Cooperation (EuropeAid), International
Options Under Public International Law to Increase Resource Efficiency
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Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
"No more Plastics in the Oceans": Designing a legally binding global plastic convention
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World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), International
Internet Platform Marine Litter
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Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
A Taste of the Future of the Seas
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Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany
Selected Publications for Plastics
Plastic regulation
Stockhaus, H; Sachdeva, A; Sina, S; Bolopion, E; Mislang, G; Espenilla, J; Guiao, C.T.; Sulistiawati, L.Y.; Popattanachai, N. 2021. A New Treaty on Plastic Pollution – Perspectives from Asia. Published in October 2021 by WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (Singapore) Limited (WWF-Singapore).
Knoblauch, D.; Mederake, L. (2021): Government policies combatting plastic pollution, Current Opinion in Toxicology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cotox.2021.10.003.
Bodle, Ralph; Sina, Stephan (2019), "A treaty on plastic waste. Discussion paper for the international round-table on Tackling global plastic pollution – Ways towards an international convention", Ecologic Institute, Berlin.
Mederake, Linda; Gürtler, Stephan; Knoblauch, Doris (2019): Regulation: Solutions at the Wrong End. In: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung und BUND – Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (Eds.): Plastic Atlas 2019. Facts and figures about the world of synthetic polymers. Berlin.
Mederake, Linda; Knoblauch, Doris (2019): Shaping EU Plastic Policies: The Role of Public Health vs. Environmental Arguments. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 3928.
Simon, Nils et al. (2018): No More Plastics in the Ocean. Gaps in Global Plastic Governance and Options for a Legally Binding Agreement to Eliminate Marine Plastic Pollution. Draft report for WWF to support discussions at the Ad Hoc Open-ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics. Berlin: adelphi.
Publications within the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment
Ecologic Institut (2018): Plastic in the Environment. URL: www.bmbf-plastik.de/en
Ecologic Institute (ed.) 2018: BMBF Research Focus - Plastics in the Environment Sources • Sinks • Solutions - Overview of the Joint Research Projects.
Ecologic Institut (2018): Plastic in the Environment. Flyer
Ecologic Institute (ed.) 2019: BMBF-Forschungsschwerpunkt Plastik in der Umwelt – Quellen • Senken • Lösungsansätze. Statuskonferenz, 09./10. April 2019, Kalkscheune, Berlin. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.
Knoblauch, Doris et. al. 2018: Dem Plastik auf der Spur. In: WasserWirtschaft 2018, 11, 80-82.
Braun, Ulrike; Jekel, Martin; Gerdts, Gunnar; Ivleva, Natalia; Reiber, Jens (2018): Discussion Paper Microplastics Analytics. Sampling, Preparation and Detection Methods. Discussion paper published in the course of the research focus "Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions". Berlin: Ecologic Institute.
Ecologic Institute 2019: Plastik in der Umwelt: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung. Überblick über Forschungsgegenstände, Ergebnisarten und Zielgruppen der Projekte mit sozialwissenschaftlichem Anteil im BMBF-Forschungsschwerpunkt "Plastik in der Umwelt". Infographic.
Ecologic Institute 2019: Plastik in der Umwelt: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung. Überblick über Forschungsgegenstände, Ergebnisarten und Zielgruppen der Projekte mit sozialwissenschaftlichem Anteil im BMBF-Forschungsschwerpunkt "Plastik in der Umwelt". PlastikNet Poster Series. Poster.
Selected Events for Plastics
Conference:Plastics in the Environment – Status Conference
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- Berlin, Germany
Microplastics
Conference:Microplastics in the Water Cycle (MiWA) – Final conference
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- Karlsruhe, Germany
Workshop:Sampling, Sample Preparation and Analysis of Microplastics
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- Karlsruhe, Germany
Citizen Science
Workshop:Plastic Pirates – The Sea Begins Here!
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Discussion:Science Sips on Citizen Science and Plastic in the Science Year 2016*17 – Seas and Oceans
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- Berlin, Germany
Selected Presentations for Plastics
Speech:Tackling Plastic Pollution – Introduction to Global Plastic Pollution and the Discussions at the International Level
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- Berlin, Germany
Speech:Micropollutants and Plastic in the Environment
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- Berlin, Germany
Lecture:Plastics Crisis? – Advantages of plastics and the problems of plastic consumption
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- Berlin, Germany
Speech:The Plastic Pirates – Investigating Waste Pollution in and at German Rivers with Young People
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- Berlin, Germany
Chairing:Political and Social Dimensions of Plastics in the Environment
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- Berlin, Germany
Lecture:Towards a Global Plastics Convention
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- Glasgow, United Kingdom