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<p>Since the beginning of industrial-scale production, approximately 8,300&#xa0;million metric tons of virgin plastics have been manufactured by 2017, with global production continuing to rise steadily. Alarmingly, up to 50% of this output is destined for single-use applications, discarded after mere moments of utility. While plastic represents a powerful and versatile global resource, the environmental burden associated with its excessive and often inappropriate use has evolved into a pressing planetary issue. Numerous policy interventions have been attempted in various regions over the years, yet none have achieved meaningful success on a global scale. This persistent failure stems primarily from economic and political inertia. Importantly, the plastic waste crisis should not be regarded as a complex, unsolvable challenge, but rather as a complicated one, amenable to structured, evidence-based solutions. In this brief essay, we propose a paradigm shift: reframing plastic waste as a strategic opportunity for economic innovation and ecological transition, made possible through the intelligent and coordinated use of political instruments.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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How to transform plastic waste into an economic and environmental opportunity

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月7日

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  • Antonio Ragusa,
  • Denise Rinaldo

摘要

Since the beginning of industrial-scale production, approximately 8,300 million metric tons of virgin plastics have been manufactured by 2017, with global production continuing to rise steadily. Alarmingly, up to 50% of this output is destined for single-use applications, discarded after mere moments of utility. While plastic represents a powerful and versatile global resource, the environmental burden associated with its excessive and often inappropriate use has evolved into a pressing planetary issue. Numerous policy interventions have been attempted in various regions over the years, yet none have achieved meaningful success on a global scale. This persistent failure stems primarily from economic and political inertia. Importantly, the plastic waste crisis should not be regarded as a complex, unsolvable challenge, but rather as a complicated one, amenable to structured, evidence-based solutions. In this brief essay, we propose a paradigm shift: reframing plastic waste as a strategic opportunity for economic innovation and ecological transition, made possible through the intelligent and coordinated use of political instruments.

Graphical Abstract