1.3 Standards, Norms, and Legislation for Plastics in the Circular Economy

Lesson Learning Outcomes

After completion of this lesson, learners will be familiar with:

Understand closed-loop systems, life cycle thinking, and resource efficiency (Circular Economy Principles)
Be familiar with design for disassembly, product-as-a-service, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) (Circular Economy Principles)
Know the types of polymers and plastics (thermoplastics, thermosets, bioplastics) (Materials Science)
Understand how material properties affect recyclability (Materials Science)
Be aware of pollution pathways, especially for microplastics (Environmental Science)
Understand ecosystem impacts and toxicity assessments (Environmental Science)

Be familiar with mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic recycling technologies (Recycling Technologies)
Understand sorting technologies such as NIR spectroscopy and AI-based systems (Recycling Technologies)
Be able to conduct or interpret life cycle assessment (LCA) studies (Life Cycle Assessment)
Use tools like SimaPro, GaBi, or OpenLCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
Have skills in data collection, statistical analysis, and environmental monitoring (Data Analysis & Monitoring)
Use GIS, remote sensing, or lab-based microplastic detection methods (Data Analysis & Monitoring)

Know international (ISO), EU (REACH, EN standards), and national regulations (Policy & Regulation Literacy)
Understand waste management laws and sustainability reporting (Policy & Regulation Literacy)
Be able to see interconnections between production, consumption, and waste (Systems Thinking)
Have skills in problem-solving across sectors and disciplines (Systems Thinking)
Translate technical concepts for non-experts (Communication & Collaboration)
Collaborate with engineers, policymakers, designers, and communities (Communication & Collaboration)
Show creativity in eco-design, product innovation, and business model transformation (Innovation & Design Thinking)
Be familiar with circular design tools and sustainability frameworks (Innovation & Design Thinking)

Quizzes