Gaps in quantifying environmental losses of plastics impede effective solutions

Vinay Yadav; Xunchang Fei; Mohit Arora; Tim H.M. van Emmerik; Yao Wang; Alexis Laurent

doi:10.1038/s41578-025-00802-5

Gaps in quantifying environmental losses of plastics impede effective solutions

Vinay Yadav^*, Xunchang Fei, Mohit Arora, Tim H.M. van Emmerik, Yao Wang, Alexis Laurent

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Abstract

Ongoing plastics losses to marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems continue to exacerbate the global environmental crisis. Variations in data, methods and assumptions across studies have led to inconsistent estimates of plastics losses and their ecological impacts. These estimates must now be improved to develop and deliver effective interventions.

Original language	English
Article number	15611
Journal	Nature Reviews Materials
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-025-00802-5
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Limited 2025.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Biomaterials
Energy (miscellaneous)
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Materials Chemistry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1038/s41578-025-00802-5

Cite this

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title = "Gaps in quantifying environmental losses of plastics impede effective solutions",

abstract = "Ongoing plastics losses to marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems continue to exacerbate the global environmental crisis. Variations in data, methods and assumptions across studies have led to inconsistent estimates of plastics losses and their ecological impacts. These estimates must now be improved to develop and deliver effective interventions.",

author = "Vinay Yadav and Xunchang Fei and Mohit Arora and {van Emmerik}, {Tim H.M.} and Yao Wang and Alexis Laurent",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Springer Nature Limited 2025.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1038/s41578-025-00802-5",

language = "English",

journal = "Nature Reviews Materials",

issn = "2058-8437",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

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T1 - Gaps in quantifying environmental losses of plastics impede effective solutions

AU - Yadav, Vinay

AU - Fei, Xunchang

AU - Arora, Mohit

AU - van Emmerik, Tim H.M.

AU - Wang, Yao

AU - Laurent, Alexis

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Ongoing plastics losses to marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems continue to exacerbate the global environmental crisis. Variations in data, methods and assumptions across studies have led to inconsistent estimates of plastics losses and their ecological impacts. These estimates must now be improved to develop and deliver effective interventions.

AB - Ongoing plastics losses to marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems continue to exacerbate the global environmental crisis. Variations in data, methods and assumptions across studies have led to inconsistent estimates of plastics losses and their ecological impacts. These estimates must now be improved to develop and deliver effective interventions.

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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=105004183256&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41578-025-00802-5

DO - 10.1038/s41578-025-00802-5

M3 - Comment/debate

AN - SCOPUS:105004183256

SN - 2058-8437

JO - Nature Reviews Materials

JF - Nature Reviews Materials

M1 - 15611

ER -

Gaps in quantifying environmental losses of plastics impede effective solutions

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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