Application of failure mode and effects analysis to reduce microplastic emissions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Pollution Control

Background:

• Microplastic pollution poses a significant environmental threat, stemming from the widespread use of plastics.
• Current regulatory measures inadequately address the pervasive issue of microplastics, focusing narrowly on microbeads and single-use items.
• Effective end-of-life management strategies for plastic products are lacking, exacerbating pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel methodology, microplastic-failure mode and effect analysis (MP-FMEA), for identifying causes and solutions to microplastic pollution.
• To introduce a semi-qualitative approach for analyzing microplastic release and occurrence.
• To demonstrate the applicability and utility of MP-FMEA through a case study.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of the microplastic-failure mode and effect analysis (MP-FMEA) methodology.
• Utilizing a pre-defined failure mode encompassing microplastic release to air, water, and soil, or presence in final products.
• Conducting a theoretical case study of a recycling plant to evaluate the MP-FMEA method.

Main Results:

• MP-FMEA effectively identifies failure modes, causes, and potential solutions for microplastic pollution.
• The methodology proved to be a heuristic and accessible technique for understanding microplastic issues.
• The study highlighted the potential for MP-FMEA application across various research domains beyond microplastics.

Conclusions:

• MP-FMEA offers a valuable framework for addressing microplastic pollution by systematically analyzing failure modes and effects.
• The proposed method is adaptable and can assist researchers in diverse fields in mitigating environmental contamination.
• Future research should integrate MP-FMEA with quantitative methods to enhance the reduction of microplastic release.