The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh

Plastics have come to symbolize the lifestyle and technological advancements of the 20th century, representing modern convenience and progress. In recent years, global plastic production surpassed 360 million tons in 2018 and is projected to reach between 500 and 600 million metric tons by 2025. Thi...

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Main Authors: Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury, Subrata Sarker, Zarin Tasnim, Md. Nazmul Hasan Niloy, Md. Monjurul Hasan, A. N. M. Samiul Huda, Alifa Bintha Haque
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Cambridge Prisms: Plastics
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755094X25100266/type/journal_article
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author Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury
Subrata Sarker
Zarin Tasnim
Md. Nazmul Hasan Niloy
Md. Monjurul Hasan
A. N. M. Samiul Huda
Alifa Bintha Haque
author_facet Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury
Subrata Sarker
Zarin Tasnim
Md. Nazmul Hasan Niloy
Md. Monjurul Hasan
A. N. M. Samiul Huda
Alifa Bintha Haque
author_sort Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury
collection DOAJ
description Plastics have come to symbolize the lifestyle and technological advancements of the 20th century, representing modern convenience and progress. In recent years, global plastic production surpassed 360 million tons in 2018 and is projected to reach between 500 and 600 million metric tons by 2025. This plastic accumulates as waste in freshwater, marine and land environments, leading to habitat disruption, alterations in nutrient cycles and harm to wildlife through exposure to toxic substances, entanglement and ingestion which pose significant ecological and health risks. The long-term ecological changes resulting from this pollution are likely irreversible. Developing countries in the Global South, including Bangladesh, are particularly vulnerable to the challenges of poorly managed plastic waste due to a lack of institutional, financial and technical resources to combat plastic pollution. The Aquatic Zoology Research Group has focused on addressing plastic pollution in Bangladesh and adopted a comprehensive strategy to tackle plastic pollution, starting with identifying the issue through various methods, followed by a thorough assessment of the plastic pollution situation and finally proposing solutions for mitigation. Our review of the current state of plastic pollution in Bangladesh’s aquatic systems highlighted significant research gaps, despite the country’s early ban on plastic bags. As a conservation research team from a developing nation facing the severe impacts of plastic pollution, we studied and listed specific expectations for the upcoming INC 5.2 meeting, highlighting challenges faced by many similar countries. We hope that INC 5.2 will move beyond mere statements to implement concrete and equitable actions.
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spelling doaj-art-86b2876f2db54bd1ab27e9ccb8f7ebc92025-08-26T11:31:02ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Plastics2755-094X2025-01-01310.1017/plc.2025.10026The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in BangladeshGawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9384-9585Subrata Sarker1Zarin Tasnim2Md. Nazmul Hasan Niloy3Md. Monjurul Hasan4A. N. M. Samiul Huda5Alifa Bintha Haque6Department of Zoology, https://ror.org/05wv2vq37University of Dhaka, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Oceanography, https://ror.org/05hm0vv72Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, BangladeshDepartment of Zoology, https://ror.org/05wv2vq37University of Dhaka, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Zoology, https://ror.org/05wv2vq37University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladeshhttps://ror.org/02dw1n083Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Chandpur, BangladeshDepartment of Oceanography, https://ror.org/05hm0vv72Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, BangladeshDepartment of Zoology, https://ror.org/05wv2vq37University of Dhaka, Dhaka, BangladeshPlastics have come to symbolize the lifestyle and technological advancements of the 20th century, representing modern convenience and progress. In recent years, global plastic production surpassed 360 million tons in 2018 and is projected to reach between 500 and 600 million metric tons by 2025. This plastic accumulates as waste in freshwater, marine and land environments, leading to habitat disruption, alterations in nutrient cycles and harm to wildlife through exposure to toxic substances, entanglement and ingestion which pose significant ecological and health risks. The long-term ecological changes resulting from this pollution are likely irreversible. Developing countries in the Global South, including Bangladesh, are particularly vulnerable to the challenges of poorly managed plastic waste due to a lack of institutional, financial and technical resources to combat plastic pollution. The Aquatic Zoology Research Group has focused on addressing plastic pollution in Bangladesh and adopted a comprehensive strategy to tackle plastic pollution, starting with identifying the issue through various methods, followed by a thorough assessment of the plastic pollution situation and finally proposing solutions for mitigation. Our review of the current state of plastic pollution in Bangladesh’s aquatic systems highlighted significant research gaps, despite the country’s early ban on plastic bags. As a conservation research team from a developing nation facing the severe impacts of plastic pollution, we studied and listed specific expectations for the upcoming INC 5.2 meeting, highlighting challenges faced by many similar countries. We hope that INC 5.2 will move beyond mere statements to implement concrete and equitable actions.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755094X25100266/type/journal_articleaquatic systemsglobal southplastic pollutionwaste managementmicroplastics pollution
spellingShingle Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury
Subrata Sarker
Zarin Tasnim
Md. Nazmul Hasan Niloy
Md. Monjurul Hasan
A. N. M. Samiul Huda
Alifa Bintha Haque
The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh
Cambridge Prisms: Plastics
aquatic systems
global south
plastic pollution
waste management
microplastics pollution
title The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh
title_full The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh
title_fullStr The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh
title_short The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh
title_sort chronicles of plastic from boon to bane a case of resilience in bangladesh
topic aquatic systems
global south
plastic pollution
waste management
microplastics pollution
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755094X25100266/type/journal_article
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