Circular economy and reduction of micro(nano)plastics contamination

Circular economy is viewed as the most promising path to a more sustainable use of plastic. It aims at reducing the consumption of resources by keeping materials within the value chain for longer periods compared to traditional linear material flow. Apart from reducing the consumption of plastics, plastic pollution (including microplastic contamination) is considered a major environmental risk. However, explicit considerations of microplastic contamination are seldom considered in studies on the transition to a circular plastic economy. In this perspective we provide reflections on why this is important, give examples of areas where recycling can lead to increased microplastic contamination and provide recommendations on how reduction of microplastic contamination and transition to circular economy can interconnected in future research.

Automated summary

Circular economy is considered the most promising approach to achieve sustainable use of plastic, but studies rarely address the issue of microplastic contamination. This perspective highlights the importance of considering microplastic contamination and provides recommendations on how to integrate reduction of microplastic contamination with the transition to a circular economy in future research.