Plastic pollution has become one of the biggest environmental challenges of the 21st century. Millions of tons of waste reach oceans, rivers and soils every year, while microplastics already appear in drinking water, the food chain and numerous ecosystems. Faced with this scenario, governments, companies, scientists and civil organizations are accelerating initiatives to reduce the impact of a material that is essential for numerous sectors, but whose indiscriminate use threatens biodiversity.
Spain has placed this transition among its priorities through the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE) of the Circular Economy. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has approved aid of more than 150 million euros for 115 projects aimed at promoting the circularity of plastic and which will total 473 million already with the private contribution. The subsidies will benefit 121 companies, more than 40% of them SMEs, with projects focused on incorporating recycled plastic into industrial processes, improving recycling, promoting eco-design, digitalizing waste management and reducing the consumption of virgin raw materials.
The investment responds to a worrying reality. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an independent body of the United Nations, Plastic pollution in the oceans has multiplied tenfold since 1980 and now represents more than 80% of marine litter, with effects on fauna, as well as economic sectors such as fishing and tourism.
The circular economy is also gaining ground from the business field. Gravity Wave, a Spanish company created in 2020 in Calpe (Alicante), has developed a model that connects fishermen, administrations and companies to remove waste from the Mediterranean and transform it into new materials. The initiative has recovered more than 1.4 million kilos of plastic thanks to a network of more than 7,000 fishermen and 200 collaborating companies.
The project has received public financing through a participatory loan from the public company Enisa of 134,000 euros, in addition to aid from the national Kit Digital and Kit Consulting programs. Its objective is to completely close the production cycle: recover plastic from the sea, recycle it and convert it into furniture, panels and other products with a long useful life.
Scientific research is also offering promising solutions. A study by the Paulista State University (UNESP), in Brazil, showed that an extract of moringa seeds, known as the “miracle tree”, eliminates more than 98% of PVC microplastics present in water, with an efficiency similar to or greater than that of conventional chemical coagulants. The technique could reduce the use of chemicals in water treatment plants.
Brazil is also betting on advanced technologies through a mobile unit equipped with electron accelerators developed by the state Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research (IPEN). The system can treat up to one million liters of contaminated water per day, fragmenting microplastics and other compounds without using chemical reagents.
Another innovation comes from Germany. Researchers from the University of Bonn and the Fraunhofer Institute developed a filter inspired by the mouths of fish such as sardines and anchovies capable of retaining up to 99% of the microplastics released by washing machines. The design prevents obstructions and could be incorporated into those appliances in the future.
International cooperation
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is preparing a new strategy to achieve the goal of zero discharges of plastic waste from ships by 2030. The measures include new rules for the transport of plastic pellets, the marking of fishing gear and the strengthening of port facilities for waste management.
Citizen mobilization completes this transformation through beach cleaning campaigns, reduction of single-use plastics, recycling and consumption more oriented towards reusable products, actions that complement public policies and business investments.
However, the scientific community demands rigor. A study published in Nature concludes that some estimates of the presence of microplastics in the atmosphere could be overstated due to methodological limitations. Researchers agree that the problem exists, but consider it essential to improve measurement techniques to guide environmental policies more precisely.
The fight against plastic pollution no longer depends on a solution. The combination of public investment, innovation, regulation, circular economy and citizen commitment forms an increasingly solid strategy.