Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate
Plastic pollution is central to policy and public debates about anthropogenic damage to the environment. Negotiations for an international binding treaty to end plastic pollution provide a timely opportunity to analyse peer-reviewed papers concerning public perceptions of plastic pollution (n = 39)....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Plastics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755094X23000214/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827712959490555904 |
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| author | Lesley Henderson |
| author_facet | Lesley Henderson |
| author_sort | Lesley Henderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plastic pollution is central to policy and public debates about anthropogenic damage to the environment. Negotiations for an international binding treaty to end plastic pollution provide a timely opportunity to analyse peer-reviewed papers concerning public perceptions of plastic pollution (n = 39). These focused on the impact of plastic pollution solely on the marine ecosystem, single-use plastics, barriers to recycling and risks of microplastics. Research studies explored public perceptions of ‘plastic pollution’, ‘marine plastic litter’, ‘marine plastic pollution’ and ‘plastic marine debris’. These terms are not interchangeable and frame the problem. Awareness links to media representations and personal ‘choices’ are limited by lack of options (extended producer responsibility schemes). There was limited discussion of reducing the aggregate global volume of plastics produced. Future research could explore perceptions of risk (toxic chemicals, bioplastics) plastics and climate change or plastics and global biodiversity loss (beyond turtles). The social meaning of plastics, the heterogeneity of audiences and the role of media in framing risks can help inform plastics-related policy. Social Sciences and media scholars are well placed to unpack the socio-cultural context in which plastics are intertwined in people’s everyday lives and how social meanings of plastics may change in response to global crises. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:24:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2eecb64628754f4db0357b5706533883 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2755-094X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:24:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Plastics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2eecb64628754f4db0357b57065338832023-11-20T07:04:41ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Plastics2755-094X2023-01-01110.1017/plc.2023.21Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debateLesley Henderson0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0317-2890Journalism, Media and Communication, Department of Humanities, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKPlastic pollution is central to policy and public debates about anthropogenic damage to the environment. Negotiations for an international binding treaty to end plastic pollution provide a timely opportunity to analyse peer-reviewed papers concerning public perceptions of plastic pollution (n = 39). These focused on the impact of plastic pollution solely on the marine ecosystem, single-use plastics, barriers to recycling and risks of microplastics. Research studies explored public perceptions of ‘plastic pollution’, ‘marine plastic litter’, ‘marine plastic pollution’ and ‘plastic marine debris’. These terms are not interchangeable and frame the problem. Awareness links to media representations and personal ‘choices’ are limited by lack of options (extended producer responsibility schemes). There was limited discussion of reducing the aggregate global volume of plastics produced. Future research could explore perceptions of risk (toxic chemicals, bioplastics) plastics and climate change or plastics and global biodiversity loss (beyond turtles). The social meaning of plastics, the heterogeneity of audiences and the role of media in framing risks can help inform plastics-related policy. Social Sciences and media scholars are well placed to unpack the socio-cultural context in which plastics are intertwined in people’s everyday lives and how social meanings of plastics may change in response to global crises.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755094X23000214/type/journal_articleplastic pollutionmarine litterpublic perceptionspublic perspectivesmediacommunications |
| spellingShingle | Lesley Henderson Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate Cambridge Prisms: Plastics plastic pollution marine litter public perceptions public perspectives media communications |
| title | Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate |
| title_full | Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate |
| title_fullStr | Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate |
| title_short | Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate |
| title_sort | global perceptions of plastic pollution the contours and limits of debate |
| topic | plastic pollution marine litter public perceptions public perspectives media communications |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755094X23000214/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lesleyhenderson globalperceptionsofplasticpollutionthecontoursandlimitsofdebate |