Page - 262 - in Freshwater Microplastics - Emerging Environmental Contaminants?

Incaseof theheterogeneousgroupof(micro)plastics, it is important todevelopa set of differentmeasures to tackle theproblemfromdifferent sides.This setmight include measures well known from similar environmental issues, ideally complementedwith new and specific strategies. The choice of suitablemeasures depends on the characteristics of the plastics under regulation, on their intended application, and on their current stage of product life cycle. With regard to the latter, various regulatory measures can be applied to one plastic product, as the regulatory responsibilities change during product life. Themain stages of product lifeareschematizedinFig.3toemphasize that themanagementofplastics involves different regulatory authorities aswell as various addressees. Aswehaveseenabove,variousCaCmeasurescanaffectplasticproductsmainly at the beginning (production, product design) and end (recycling, disposal) of product life.During the actually intended use and function of the product, regula- torymeasures address consumers and are often realized byfinancial or persuasive measures. Regulations related to freshwater do usually not concern the intended product life. Plastics usually enter into freshwater systems in consequence of incorrect disposal or insufficient treatment after their intended product life has e.g. Plastic Bags Directive (section 2.2.2) Use e.g. Deposit and return systems (section 2.3) End of life Regulatory responsibility e.g. Framework Directive on waste (section 2.2.2) Recycling e.g.Framework Directive on waste (section 2.2.2)Raw materials e.g. REACH (section 2.2.3 Disposal e.g. Framework Directive on waste (section 2.2.2) Incorrect disposal e.g. Littering acts (section 2.3) Environmental (micro)plastics Directive (section 2.2.1) e.g Marine Framework Manufacturing e.g.U.S Microbead- Free Waters Act (section 2.3) Production e.g. Industrial Emissions Directive (section 2.2.2) Reprocessing Reuse Trade Fig. 3 Main stations in the life cycle of plastic products. Regulatory responsibilities and addressees of regulatory measures change during product life. Examples for regulatory instru- mentsaregivenforeachstageofproduct life.Environmentalplasticsmostlyoccur fromincorrect disposal of plastic products after their intendedproduct life has expired 262 N.Brennholt et al.