Introduction
The whole plastic life cycle is now associated with the widespread worldwide problem of plastic pollution. Each step of the process, from the extraction of raw materials to the disposal of end-of-life products, damages the environment.
This lesson looks at the causes, modes of transportation, and environmental impacts of plastic pollution. It deals with contaminants like maco/ micro/ nanoplastics, and chemical additives used in plastic materiales to enhance their properties.
Students will examine the effects of plastics on human health, ecosystems, built environment, and also on the trangression of Planetary Boundaries. Technologies for removal, biodegradation, and recycling are among the depollution tactics that are investigated. Understanding the intricacy of plastic flows across environmental systems is the main goal. The analysis incorporates the social, environmental, and technological aspects of depollution and promotes conscientious, system-based methods to lessen the environmental impact of plastics.
Enjoy the Learning Journey!
EDU4Plastic Team
Lesson Learning Outcomes
After completion of this lesson, learners will:
be able to apply the pollution model in explaining the plastics presence and fate in natural and built environment:
- Define the components of the pollution model: source, pollutant, pathway, and target.
- Identify major sources of plastic pollutants and classify types (macro-, micro-, and nanoplastics).
- Describe the physical, chemical, and biological processes governing plastic transport in air, water, and soil.
- Analyze the interactions between plastic pollutants and their effects on natural and built environments.
- Interpret environmental case examples using the pollution model framework.
be able to analyse case studies related to plastic pollution by using the pollution model:
- Apply the pollution model to real-world case studies involving plastic pollution (urban, aquatic, agricultural).
- Map source–pathway–target chains for specific plastic types and additives.
- Evaluate pollution pathways in relation to local environmental conditions (e.g., climate, land use).
- Assess the limitations and advantages of the pollution model in analyzing complex pollution scenarios.
- Propose context-appropriate solutions based on model-based diagnosis.
be able to explain the plastics problem and possible solutions from the planetary boundaries perspective:
- Describe the planetary boundaries framework and its relevance to Earth system sustainability.
- Identify how plastic pollution contributes to transgressions of specific planetary boundaries (e.g., novel entities, biosphere integrity, climate change).
- Analyze scientific data showing systemic plastic impacts on global environmental thresholds.
- Interpret plastic pollution in the context of safe operating space for humanity.
- Suggest mitigation strategies that align with maintaining planetary boundaries.
be able to analyze plastic depollution solutions in different phases (such as plastic production, plastic use, plastic landfilling) by integrating technological- environmental- social perspectives:
- Differentiate among plastic depollution strategies at production, use, and disposal stages.
- Explain technological innovations for plastic waste reduction and removal (e.g., bio-based polymers, magnetic separation, chemical recycling).
- Evaluate environmental benefits and trade-offs of specific depollution interventions.
- Assess social dimensions such as public awareness, consumer behavior, and policy impacts.
- Design integrated solutions that balance technological feasibility, environmental effectiveness, and societal acceptability.
