COVID-19: implications for plastic reduction, with a focus on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

ABSTRACT

With over 190 million cases reported and nearly 4.1 million deaths worldwide, COVID19 has been the center of global attention. This pandemic has changed many aspects of daily life and has, perhaps, indelibly changed the way we live and it is quite likely that there will be no full return to normality. Owing to its impacts across all societal aspects – from micro- and macroeconomics, information management and research, education, to governance, mental health and even territorial integrity and cohesion – the global ecosystem upon which modern society has evolved will have to be redesigned. Many have, indeed, pointed out that the economy will have to be restructured and growth will have to be defined as prosperity – not continuous growth. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the environment