Transformative potential of solutions in addressing coastal and marine plastic pollution in Norway

What is it about?

In this study, we explore various implemented solutions to address plastic pollution along Norway’s coasts and marine environments, focusing particularly on the efforts that can lead to a significant transformation of the current plastics system. We examined 52 concrete implemented solutions to plastic pollution. We found that the majority of them (61.5%, n = 32), such as recycling, clean-up efforts, charges on plastic usage, or monitoring, are relatively easy to implement, but fall short of tackling the root causes of the issue. However, we also identified three solutions with the potential to transform the existing plastics system. To deepen our understanding of these transformative solutions, we applied insights from societal intrinsic and extrinsic values from social psychology, specifically examining how prioritization of goals and values rooted in society might influence decisions within the plastics system and subsequently change the system.

Featured Image

Photo by Jake Houglum on Unsplash

Photo by Jake Houglum on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our study offers and contributes with additional perspective on how transformative solutions can look like in addressing marine and coastal plastic pollution in Norway. We hope to broaden the discussion and inspire future research focused on solutions that address the root causes and seek to fundamentally reduce and prevent marine and coastal plastic pollution.