Industrial ecology as the context

To study the marine plastic debris is a way of following the waste outside its industrial borders. Normally, material flow systems are relatively closed – except for if they have leaks, which clearly is the case here. Industrial ecology analyses “the impacts of industrial systems on the environment” (Garner & Keoleian, 1995; p. 2). Industrial ecology has the aim to lower impacts of production of products and services onto the surrounding ecosystems. It recognises the interrelationships between both natural and engineered systems as well as it investigates how these systems interact with each other. The focus hereby lies on the flows of energy and material through a system. In order to use resources in the most efficient way, their usage is tracked and emissions into the environment are minimised as much as possible. All of this has the goal to foster more joined and thus more sustainable systems. Processes are aimed to become circular and produce less waste by designing closed production loops. (Garner & Keoleian, 1995)

Thus, this study of plastic debris flows will be done in the context of industrial ecology because it explores the impact of industrial systems onto the marine ecosystem. The respective industrial systems for this case are not only industries in the literal sense such as the fishing industry and various producing industries, but also human settlements. Human behaviour is an important factor in the waste problem as a large part of the plastic debris enters the ocean due to littering. So overall, the objective of industrial ecology to minimise the environmental impact of industry and to design circular processes would also reduce the amount of waste entering the ocean.