scholarly journals China’s plastic import ban increases prospects of environmental impact mitigation of plastic waste trade flow worldwide

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongguo Wen ◽  
Yiling Xie ◽  
Muhan Chen ◽  
Christian Doh Dinga

AbstractSince the late 1990s, the trend of plastic waste shipment from developed to developing countries has been increasing. In 2017, China announced an unprecedented ban on its import of most plastic waste, resulting in a sharp decline in global plastic waste trade flow and changes in the treatment structure of countries, whose impacts on global environmental sustainability are enormous but yet unexamined. Here, through the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, we quantified the environmental impacts of changes in the flow patterns and treatment methods of 6 types of plastic waste in 18 countries subsequent to the ban. In the short term, the ban significantly improved four midpoint indicators of environmental impact, albeit contributed to global warming. An annual saving of about 2.35 billion euros of eco-cost was realized, which is equivalent to 56% of plastic waste global trade value in 2017. To achieve global environmental sustainability in the long run, countries should gradually realize the transition from export to domestic management, and from landfill to recycling, which would realize eco-costs savings of about 1.54–3.20 billion euros.

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 166
Author(s):  
Kusdiyono Kusdiyono ◽  
Supriyadi Supriyadi ◽  
Tedjo Mulyono ◽  
Sukoyo Sukoyo

At present, plastic is a material that is needed by the community at large, where the impact is also very extraordinary after the plastic is used in everyday life which can cause serious problems if the management is not done properly. The problem of plastic waste does not only occur in the city of Semarang, but also in other cities, so that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has implemented a paid plastic bag program in the short term. But this is only to deal with problems in the short term. In the long run, it will not solve the problem of "plastic waste", because the policy actually encourages people to buy plastic which, of course, will add a new burden for the community to buy it. Based on the above problems, it is necessary to utilize this plastic waste to be made into road pavement materials such as in the manufacture of Asphal Concrette Wearing Course, by making 5 mixed variations ranging from (2 to 10)% of the weight of the aggregate . This research was initiated through a survey process, material procurement, testing of stacking materials, making test specimens, testing specimens. The results of the research can show that the type of Thermosetting plastic waste has a significant influence on the Asphalt Concrete mixture AC-WC heat mixture, including: Density, Marshall Stability, Flow, VIM, VMA, MQ and the remaining Marshall Stability tend to show an increase, moderate VFA and VIMrefusal Density values tend to show a decrease. Thus the plastic waste from the Thermosetting type can be used as a partial replacement of the aggregate for the Asphalt Concrete mixture AC-WC heat mixture with a plastic waste content is limited to a maximum of 10% and at an optimum asphalt content of 5.55%. Thus this research is expected to be of benefit to the industry and the people of Semarang in relation to the use of plastic waste for road pavement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3662
Author(s):  
Changping Zhao ◽  
Mengru Liu ◽  
Huanzheng Du ◽  
Yu Gong

Marine plastic waste, global warming, and ozone holes have become global environmental problems that need to be resolved urgently. With the promulgation of plastic bans in many countries, the global plastic waste trade will undergo tremendous change. In order to explore the future evolutionary trend of the global plastic waste trade network, this paper focuses on the analysis of the import and export of plastic waste from major trading countries around the world. Based on the bilateral trade volume of plastic waste from 1990 to 2019, a global plastic waste trade network is constructed, and the structure and characteristics of the network are studied. The results show that the global plastic waste trade network has shifted its center of gravity, and the import center has gradually shifted from China to Southeast Asia. The global plastic waste trade network presents a sparse state. Moreover, the dependence of related countries on plastic waste trade decreases, whilst the closeness of trade links also decreases. Sudden factors such as plastic waste import bans have a disruptive impact on plastic waste management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Supriyadi Supriyadi ◽  
Kusdiyono Kusdiyono ◽  
Herry Ludiro Wahyono ◽  
Marchus Budi Utomo ◽  
Imam Nurhadi

<p>At this time, plastic is a material that is needed by the wider community and its impact is also extraordinary after the plastic is used in everyday life which can cause serious problems if the management is not done properly. The problem of plastic waste does not only occur in the city of Semarang, but also in other cities, so that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to impose a program to use paid plastic bags in the short term. But this is only to deal with problems in the short term. In the long run, it will not solve the problem of "plastic waste", because the policy actually encourages people to buy plastic which, of course, will add a new burden on the community to buy it. The results showed that the compressive strength of light brick with the model / type of BN s.d. B10.0 with 10 variations of the mixture of the addition of plastic waste starting from (1.0 to 10.0)% to the weight of Portland Cement (PC) there is a decrease in the average compressive strength. The lowest was the addition of 10.0% plastic waste with an average compressive strength of 9.88 kg / cm². The regression equation obtained Y = 0.042 X ² - 1.177 X + 18.84 with a correlation value R ² = 0.934, meaning that the addition of plastic waste ranging from (1.0 to 10.0)% of the weight of Portland Cement (PC) has the effect of "very strong "against the compressive strength. So we can get a picture that by adding the addition of plastic waste affects the compressive strength decreases. So that it can be investigated with other compositions by adding Fly Ash and sand made with a mixture ratio of 1 PC: 2 Aggregate (Sand and Fly Ash), with the hope that this Fly Ash waste can also be used for lightweight brick building elements</p>


2007 ◽  
pp. 655-657
Author(s):  
Åke Erlandsson

In the industry we shall support our customers with good products in a way to earn money,We shall also be a fair member of the society which includes legality and a goodenvironmental profile, The main interest of the University is examination of students, producepapers in the most respectable sites and find external money, The industry has problems thatneed qualified solutions as soon as possible. Why is then the cooperation about environmentalissues between the industry and university are of great interest and importance? In theindustry we have the activities that are a part of many environmental problems but not the fullcompetence over all aspects connected to them, In my over twenty years of experience indifferent Swedish companies located in south east Sweden I have had many contacts with theUniversity of Kalmar, regarding different environmental questions. First of all, there is a greatcompetence and a great interest to be a part in developing of the cooperation with theindustry, Parts that could be better include the following:• Easier use and cooperation with other parts of the University have competence orresources• Short term cooperation for the industry in longer projects• General contacts between the academic world and the local industry which both areparts in a fast growing global environmental impact• In the industry we most learn that work by students or researchers are not free ofcharge• Lack of efficient administrative routines and project management at the university• In the industry we most learn that work by students or researchers are not free ofcharge• Lack of efficient administrative routines and project management at the university,What we can do locally is to build network both formal and informal,Industry cooperation, project management, network


Author(s):  
Mauricio Drelichman ◽  
Hans-Joachim Voth

This chapter addresses the sustainability of debt. A systematic analysis based on the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) methodology to evaluate fiscal sustainability shows that Castile was able to service its debts in the long run. While liquidity was scarce during periods of intense warfare, years of relative peace brought large surpluses. The data collected from Castile's annual fiscal accounts produced new yearly series of revenue, military expenditure, short-term debt issues, and short-term debt service. The resulting database spans a full 31-year period—enough to employ modern quantitative techniques. This analysis provides strong evidence that Castile's fiscal position in the second half of the sixteenth century was on a solid footing. The chapter then assesses whether the events that led to major downturns in Castile's financial fortunes could have been anticipated.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Towaf Totok Irawan

Until now the government and private sector have not been able to address the backlog of 13.5 million housing units for ownership status and 7.6 million units for residential status. The high price of land has led to the high price of the house so that low-income communities (MBR) is not able to reach out to make a home purchase. In addition to the high price of land, tax factors also contribute to the high price of the house. The government plans to issue a policy for the provision of tax incentives, ie abolish VAT on home-forming material transaction. This policy is expected to house prices become cheaper, so the demand for housing increases, and encourage the relevant sectors to intensify its role in the construction of houses. It is expected to replace the lost tax potential and increase incomes. Analysis of the impact of tax incentives housing to potential state revenue and an increase in people's income, especially in Papua province is using the table IO because in addition to looking at the role each sector can also see the impact on taxes (income tax 21 Pph 25 Pph, VAT), and incomes (wage). Although in the short-term impact is still small, but very rewarding in the long run. Keywords: Backlog, Gross Input, Primary Input, Intermediate Input


Author(s):  
Priyanka Garg

The core idea of sustainability is that current decisions should not impair the prospects for maintaining or improving future living standards (Repetto, 1986). GRI (2006) defined sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The challenges of sustainable development are many and it is widely accepted that organizations have not only a responsibility but also a great ability to exert positive change on the state of the worlds economy, and environmental and social conditions. Further, the issue of environmental sustainability is intertwined with that of poverty and inequity. The causative relationship runs both ways- increased poverty and loss of rural livelihoods accelerates environmental degradation as displaced people put greater pressure on forests, fisheries, and marginal lands. The present study has made an attempt to investigate the relationship between sustainability reporting and financial performance of companies in India. Data have been collected with the help of annual reports of selected companies and Prowess Database. Collected data have been analyzed with the help of SPSS 16.0. The study shows that sustainability reporting practices of companies has improved over the time. Further, research reveals that sustainability reporting practices of a firm impact its performance negatively in short run while positively in long run.


Author(s):  
Carrie Figdor

Chapter 9 presents the idea that Literalism undermines current social and moral boundaries for moral status. Possession of psychological capacities, moral standing, and respectful treatment are a standard package deal. So either many more beings enjoy moral status than we now think, or the relative superiority of human moral status over other beings is diminished. It introduces the role of psychological ascriptions in drawing social and moral boundaries by examining dehumanization and anthropomorphism. It argues that in the short term Literalism does not motivate us to do more than make minor adjustments to current moral boundaries. We can distinguish the kinds of psychological capacities that matter for moral status from the kinds that best divide nature at its joints. In the long run, however, Literalism prompts us to reconsider the anthropocentric standards that govern current moral boundaries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 4998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Borgonovo ◽  
Cecilia Conti ◽  
Daniela Lovarelli ◽  
Valentina Ferrante ◽  
Marcella Guarino

Ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from livestock farms contribute to negative environmental impacts such as acidification and climate change. A significant part of these emissions is produced from the decomposition of slurry in livestock facilities, during storage and treatment phases. This research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the additive “SOP LAGOON” (made of agricultural gypsum processed with proprietary technology) on (i) NH3 and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, (ii) slurry properties and N loss. Moreover, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method was applied to assess the potential environmental impact associated with stored slurry treated with the additive. Six barrels were filled with 65 L of cattle slurry, of which three were used as a control while the additive was used in the other three. The results indicated that the use of the additive led to a reduction of total nitrogen, nitrates, and GHG emissions. LCA confirmed the higher environmental sustainability of the scenario with the additive for some environmental impact categories among which climate change. In conclusion, the additive has beneficial effects on both emissions and the environment, and the nitrogen present in the treated slurry could partially displace a mineral fertilizer, which can be considered an environmental credit.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3564
Author(s):  
Arnas Majumder ◽  
Laura Canale ◽  
Costantino Carlo Mastino ◽  
Antonio Pacitto ◽  
Andrea Frattolillo ◽  
...  

The building sector is known to have a significant environmental impact, considering that it is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions of around 36% and is also responsible for about 40% of global energy consumption. Of this, about 50% takes place during the building operational phase, while around 10–20% is consumed in materials manufacturing, transport and building construction, maintenance, and demolition. Increasing the necessity of reducing the environmental impact of buildings has led to enhancing not only the thermal performances of building materials, but also the environmental sustainability of their production chains and waste prevention. As a consequence, novel thermo-insulating building materials or products have been developed by using both locally produced natural and waste/recycled materials that are able to provide good thermal performances while also having a lower environmental impact. In this context, the aim of this work is to provide a detailed analysis for the thermal characterization of recycled materials for building insulation. To this end, the thermal behavior of different materials representing industrial residual or wastes collected or recycled using Sardinian zero-km locally available raw materials was investigated, namely: (1) plasters with recycled materials; (2) plasters with natural fibers; and (3) building insulation materials with natural fibers. Results indicate that the investigated materials were able to improve not only the energy performances but also the environmental comfort in both new and in existing buildings. In particular, plasters and mortars with recycled materials and with natural fibers showed, respectively, values of thermal conductivity (at 20 °C) lower than 0.475 and 0.272 W/(m⋅K), while that of building materials with natural fibers was always lower than 0.162 W/(m⋅K) with lower values for compounds with recycled materials (0.107 W/(m⋅K)). Further developments are underway to analyze the mechanical properties of these materials.


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