Social and Economic Impacts of Plastics in the Environment

Abstract

This chapter takes a holistic approach to understanding the social and economic impacts of plastics present in the environment. Plastics are observed and estimated to be increasing over the years. Plastics present in the terrestrial and marine environment pose multiple risks to society, the economy and the environment. The environmental impacts of plastics are widely covered in other literature, and therefore we are not focusing on them in this chapter. The social impacts of plastics are observed across sectors such as human health and well-being, soil health and agriculture, microbial ecotoxicity, groundwater, disease spread and invasive species, growth and functioning of organisms, climate change and heritage. The economic impacts of plastics are observed across sectors such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, health costs, waste management costs, ecosystem services, tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, clean-up activities and commercial shipping. Among these impacts, a significant impact is observed in human health, well-being, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and clean-up cost. This chapter will help provide stakeholders with a detailed understanding of the social and economic impacts of plastics in the environment so that well-informed decisions can be taken.