Plastic Pollution: Nature Based Solutions and Effective Governance

Plastics show up in every area of our lives. They are durable, cheap and light, properties that make them attractive but also problematic for the environment. The focus of this book is not just to highlight the problem of plastics, its definition, and how plastic pollution is impacting human health and environment but also to look at some best practices in both nature based solutions and in the field of law and policies. The first section of the book focuses on plastic pollution - it’s origin, relationship to climate change, linear/circular economy, followed by sustainable plastics, scientific solutions, and how policies can address plastic pollution. This includes looking at better designs, more sustainable feedstocks, and partnerships between various stakeholders worldwide including USA, China, Canada, South Korea, Thailand. This book will interest those who are associated with the production industry, packaging industry, and waste management industry as well as, academicians, students and policymakers.

Dr. Gail Krantzberg works at the interface of science and public policy with extensive expertise in disciplines involving remediation of degraded freshwater ecosystems, regeneration policies for natural ecosystem assets, and the advancement of Great Lakes resilience. She is Professor of the Masters of Engineering and Public Policy at McMaster University. She worked for the Ontario Ministry of Environment from 1988 to 2001 and was the director of the International Joint Commision’s Great Lakes Regional Office from 2001-2005.

Dr. Savitri Jetoo is an Adjunct Professor at Åbo Akademi University in Finland, whose work was recognised by the Baltic Sea Science Day Award. She obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Queensland, Australia and her doctorate at McMaster University, Canada. She works at the interface of science and public policy with extensive expertise in water resources governance in many areas of the world where she lived and worked including the Great Lakes Region.

Dr. Velma I. Grover has work experience spanning over two decades in international development with international policy think-tank, non-governmental sector, consulting and teaching at Universities (McMaster University and York University, Canada, and Kobe College, Japan). Her research interests include water, waste and impact of climate change on water cycle and health, and regeneration policies. She teaches at McMaster University in the ’Masters of Engineering and Public Policy’ program.

Dr. Sandhya Babel is a full professor at the School of Biochemical Engineering and Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Thailand. Her main research focus has been on development of low-cost technolgies for the protection of environment. Specific research interests include microplastics pollution and uptake by biota, microbial fuel cells, adsorption, photocatalysis, phytoremediation, and membrane technology. She has been listed in the top 2% scientists in the world by Stanford University and Elsevier BV since 2020.