The Deficiencies in research and development of Plastic Pollution Prevention Technologies

Abstract

As the urgency of the plastic pollution problem increases, researchers are devoting more attention to technological solutions for combating it. However, this research and associated technological developments have failed to produce satisfactory results. One observes this in steadily increasing ocean plastic content and plastic inflow rates. Many factors are responsible for the persistence of the plastic pollution issue, such as insufficient government regulations (Testa et al.) and profit-motivated resistance to clean transitions on the part of companies (Rogers et al.; Meredith). However, this opinion paper is going to focus on several in particular: 1) insufficient analysis aimed at explaining the success or failure of existing products. 2) little cooperation between the NGOs and companies doing this research, and between these organizations and the government. 3) a lack of category-spanning research and analysis concerning plastic pollution prevention technologies. All of these factors are pivotal for productive future technological development, especially when it comes to technologies.