Why is this interdisciplinary approach so important?
‘The complexity of the plastic problem is becoming increasingly clear. It spans multiple disciplines: think of the use of oil, a polluting and non-renewable resource; issues with waste management; the health risks of microplastics and chemical additives; and so on. To achieve a sustainable plastics industry, we need different types of knowledge, and we must connect our research more closely. This is also necessary to prevent unintended consequences of certain measures.’
What kind of unintended consequences?
‘Take biodegradable plastic, for example—it's often not as environmentally friendly as it seems. Biodegradable plastic is made to decompose when dispersed in the environment. But if these plastics end up in the same waste stream as recyclable plastics, they reduce the quality of recycled plastic. In other words: if waste management doesn’t change alongside the materials, biodegradable plastics can have a negative rather than a positive effect.’
‘A second problem concerns the source of the materials. Biobased plastics are often made from biomass such as corn, sugarcane or wood. Producing these raw materials requires a lot of agricultural land. Sometimes forests are cleared to create space for plantations or farmland. In this way, the production of ‘green’ plastics can unintentionally contribute to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and additional CO₂ emissions.’
And plastics often contain chemicals?
‘Many plastics indeed contain chemical additives. The problem is that there’s little regulation on which chemicals may be used. Some chemicals, such as plasticizers and PFAS, are harmful to humans and the environment, and make recycling more difficult. In short, the chemicals in plastics increase ecological and health risks and hinder a circular plastics economy. We need more transparency and regulation on the use of chemicals in plastics.’
But fortunately, a global plastics treaty is on the way?
‘Since 2022, a United Nations working group has indeed been negotiating a binding global treaty—the UN Plastics Treaty—similar to the Paris climate agreement, aimed at halting plastic pollution worldwide. But so far, countries have not reached consensus on the scope of the treaty. Some countries want to focus only on plastic waste. As scientists, we emphasize that we must consider the entire life cycle of plastics. Together with a network of researchers, I closely follow the negotiations. We engage with negotiators and provide policy recommendations.’
But I like to be in the middle, in the grey area between disciplines
What else is needed to achieve a sustainable plastics industry?
‘We need a more holistic approach to the plastics problem, looking at the entire life cycle of the product from economic, social, and environmental perspective. And we need to communicate and coordinate more effectively. Waste management, for example, still differs greatly from country to country, even from city to city. We need more uniformity; that would reduce consumer mistakes and improve the quality of recyclable plastic.;
The challenges aren’t getting any smaller, as the demand for plastic continues to grow, Gonella emphasizes. Interdisciplinary collaboration is also no easy task. Economists, for instance, have a very different jargon and mindset than environmental scientists. Yet the Italian researcher feels most at ease in this mediating position. ‘We need to look for common ground. That takes time and requires a certain flexibility. But I like to be in the middle, in the grey area between disciplines.’
Text: Inge Mutsaers
Photo Sara: Duncan de Fey
