F1ES 4360 - Addressing Global Plastic Pollution

The course addresses the paradox of plastic, highlighting its economic, societal, environmental, and health implications. It covers the history of plastics and the driving forces behind its globalization, including the evolution of flows of pellets, objects, and waste. The life chain of plastics is examined, revealing a complex network of stakeholders and dependencies on raw materials, usage, and waste management. Health issues and planetary boundaries are discussed, focusing on the physical-chemical properties of plastics and their environmental impacts. Strategies to combat plastic pollution are explored, including assessments, impacts, and the role of diplomacy and lobbying. Regulatory frameworks are analyzed. The course also encourages prospective scenario development to address future challenges in plastic management. Overall, it aims to foster critical discussions and collaborative efforts in tackling plastic pollution.

Learning Outcomes
1. Introduction, history and milestones of plastic:
Having in mind some key aspects and figures about economic, societal, environmental and health stakes of plastic, short-term versus long-term challenges and some important wording definitions. Understanding the key dates, driving forces and locations of the globalization of plastics in all their forms – understanding the evolution of global flows of pellets, objects and waste.

2. Life and stakeholders chain:
Deciphering the increasingly complex, fragmented, sprawling and opaque life chain and stakeholders of plastics (from the largest to the smallest). Understanding the dependencies related to raw materials (polymers, additives, etc.), use (major user sectors), waste (new stakeholders), long-term impacts (future generations).

3. Global health issues and planetary boundaries
Grasp the environmental and human issues, as well as the state of assets and efforts to understand and combat plastic pollution.
Possess the key knowledge about the physical chemistry, properties and functionalities, complexity of formulations and future prospects
Overview the state of knowledge and media and political controversies
Overview flows and reservoirs of plastic particles
Address temporal and ‘environmental bomb' notion.

4. From narratives to strategies to fight plastic pollution:
Understanding their foundations: assessment, impacts and footprints, compensation, transition technologies, their development/evolution (status by geographical area) and their (capacity for) implementation,
Tackle plastic diplomacy and lobbies.

5. Regulations aspects
related to plastic trade, consumer health (MCDA), chemical management, waste management and pollution: governmental, international (Basel Convention, etc.), international negotiations at the United Nations and geopolitical divisions.

6. Prospective scenarios and targeted communication exercise.
Working group under supervision.

Professional Skills
1. Critical Transdisciplinary Thinking: Students will enhance their ability to analyze complex issues related to plastic pollution and evaluate various strategies and regulations, through the lens of a large panel of disciplines.
2. Research and Analysis: The course will improve students' skills in gathering, assessing, and synthesizing information from diverse sources on plastic-related topics.
3. Communication: Students will develop effective communication skills through discussions, presentations, and the writing of critical documents.
4. Collaboration: The course will foster teamwork through group activities and interactions with key stakeholders in the field of worldwide plastic management.
5. Problem-Solving: Students will learn to devise innovative solutions and pragmatic strategies to address the challenges posed by plastic pollution on the long-haul.

Nathalie GONTARD

Séminaire

English

Course workload:
- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 1 hour a week / 8 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 1 hour a week / 8 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 2 hours a week / 8 hours a semester

Spring 2025-2026

Assessment:
Overall oral individual participation to discussion: 10%
Individual oral brief presentation of a selected paper (during one of the 5 sessions): 20%
Graphical representations/abstracts of one of the 5 topics (individual): 20%
Ending collective (group) work on prospective scenarios and targeted communications: 50%

Pedagogical and feedback format
Regular interaction with students will be organized to monitor progress in the various sessions and make adjustments accordingly. At the start of each session, the teacher will give feedback on the written work submitted by students in the previous session. At the end of each session, students will be invited to give their opinion on the session just completed and suggestions for the one to come.