A new study says that microplastic pollution can be tackled with a combination of interdisciplinary techniques, named the ‘quintuple helix’ framework, to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The framework positions the environment as an active stakeholder and brings together the roles of four other key stakeholders for knowledge exchange and policy creation. These are academia, governments, industry, and civil society organisations.
A European Union (EU) statement, discussing the study, says: “The aim is to produce policy that addresses the multifaceted nature of the microplastic problem with a holistic solution that has buy-in from stakeholders.”
Image: Melodena Stephens Balakrishnan
The study, published in Science of The Total Environment, says that microplastic poses severe threats to both ecosystems and human health. It necessitates collaborative and interdisciplinary research, as well as public awareness campaigns.
And it says effective policies for microplastic management could include banning single-use plastics, enhancing waste management systems, and adopting extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks.
