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Microplastic Pollution: Everyone’s problem -but what can be done about it?- knowledge gaps, plans and policy needs

WSF Workshop, RSC Burlington House, London 16th October 2017

Thanks• Professor Richard Thompson - co-organiserWSF Committee Members:

• Jonathan Mace - Treasurer/Webmaster

• Natasha Page (Press Officer) - Bookings/Registration

• Professor K Clive Thompson - External PromotionBadging:

• IChemE Water SIG - Chris Short

• SCI - Simon Frost (Digital Editor)Support:

• Perkin Elmer (Exhibitor) - Financial Sponsorship

JRC Technical Report; EUR 28309; doi:10.2788/018068

Advantages of Plastics Flexible, easily moulded Excellent finishing, masterbatch colours Versatile, chemically adaptable Lightweight Durable, strong, shock resistant Low cost, competitive Water, chemical, and corrosion resistance Low thermal expansion coefficient Good heat and electrical insulation Recyclable, reusable (sustainability) Security, sealable, maintains sterility Hygienic, easy to clean Laminated films, transparency Brand identity (labelling, shape etc)

Wide range of uses

• Construction

• Transportation

• Packaging

• Storage

• Food hygiene

• Medical applications

It would take between 20 and 100 uses for a reusable* cup to make up for the greenhouse gas emissions of a single-use cup. For ecosystem quality indicators, it could take more than 1,000 uses.

Source: According to a recent life-cycle assessment (LCA) by the CIRAIG

*16 oz cup comprising a mix of cardboard and polyethylene (with a lid made of polystyrene)

Reusable or DisposableWhich coffee cup has a smaller footprint?

– Joe Iles, spokesperson for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

“We don't want to eliminate plastic, we want to eliminate plastic waste.”

Photo by Justin Hoffman, finalist for Wildlife Photographer of the Year