| Title |
Science and media framing of the future of plastics in relation to transitioning to a circular economy |
| ID_Doc |
1398 |
| Authors |
Colijn, I; Fraiture, F; Gommeh, E; Schroën, K; Metze, T |
| Title |
Science and media framing of the future of plastics in relation to transitioning to a circular economy |
| Year |
2022 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133472 |
| Abstract |
Plastics play an important role in the transition from the current linear economy to a more circular one, but ideas differ about this role. These ideas were studied in this article as a form of futurity framing. These framings may hinder or contribute to a transition toward a circular bioeconomy by opening up or closing down alternative paradigms for thinking about plastics in the future. Based on a media analysis of four Dutch national newspapers and international academic papers, three futurity frames were found regarding the role of different types of plastics in a linear economy, a circular economy, or an economy in transition. (1) In newspapers and academic sources, traditional plastics were considered part of a linear economy. (2) In both sources, all sorts of actors saw a future for plastics with improved material properties in a transition toward a circular economy, but in combi-nation with a change in consumer behavior and waste management systems. (3) In both academic journals and newspapers, a role for plastics was envisioned in a future circular economy. However, in academic journals, the discussions focused mainly on the improvement of alternative forms of plastics such as biobased and/or biodegradable, whereas, in newspapers, recycling traditional plastics was emphasized. These findings indicate that a transition to a more circular economy may accelerate if both the closing-the-loop argument and the argument for technological innovations for biobased and biodegradable products receive equal attention in newspapers and academic journals, and are taken more into account in a societal future vision for the circular economy. |
| Author Keywords |
Framing; Plastic; Circular economy; Futurity framing; Packaging |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:000874840900002 |
| WoS Category |
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences |
| Research Area |
Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
| PDF |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133472
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