University Researches Propose Region-Specific Labelling Systems for Plastics

Everyone knows that plastic pollution is a growing global problem but not everyone is aware that there’s a complex mix of plastic waste polluting the planet. Today, plastics can be found every where, from the icy Arctic up to the peak of Mount Everest.

Yet science experts from the University of Queensland and the University of Exeter, recommend that there should be an internationally recognized labelling system pertaining to plastic additive content. The researchers say that plastic labelling systems should be specific to the regions and country from whence the plastic component originated.

Nevertheless, a sustainability scale about a plastic refuse can help consumers decide whether the product they are buying is using recyclable plastic or those that contain chemical additives that pose as additional harms of plastic wastes on the environment.

Sustainability Guidelines on Disposing Plastic Items

Directions for plastic disposals will help consumers decide on the sustainability of products and their packaging. Doing so shifts the responsibility of packaging to region-specific manufacturers; making it easier for regulators to monitor compliance with plastic disposal.

 

A sustainability scale for plastics will make the mix of complex plastic products more discernible for consumers, as they will know which plastics are recyclable and which ones are not. This is of vital importance for plastics that use chemical additives for improving flexibility, resistance to fire or color. In which case, plastic manufacturers will be required to provide a list of the specific chemical additives used in plastic different products.

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