Plastics cycle: a paradigm indicator of Anthropocene

Abstract

Significant human interference with nature and human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, such as rapid climate changes and plastics pollution, has been the subject of numerous studies which diagnose the reasons behind these phenomena. Anthropocene is a term proposed to describe the domination of humans over natural processes occurring around the globe. Just like the earlier concept of sustainable development, Anthropocene attracts the involvement of representatives of various scientific fields and disciplines. Therefore, an interdisciplinary and multidimensional transition to Anthropocene is already a fact. Life cycle analysis of plastics is being the subject of numerous recent investigations. However, besides its great importance, these studies ignore what happens after the plastics are discarded since they will only take into account (re)processing, recycling and landfill, and not its effect through the various ecosystems processes. The effects of macro, micro and nano plastics, acting as pollutants stressors, in climate changes are far from being understood, as well as their effects on humans. This work identified the key contemporary challenges associated with global socioeconomic development in the Anthropocene time, with a focus on plastic pollution.