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Table 6 Open-ended answers selected to illustrate responses to “In your opinion, what is the most effective and feasible solution to reduce current microplastics pollution?”

From: Exploring expert perceptions about microplastics: from sources to potential solutions

Statements about perceived impactful microplastics solutions

Technical measures

“filters on washing machines” (Non-binary. Early Career, US)

Policy and behavioural measures

“wearing/choosing natural clothes instead of synthetic ones” (Female, Early Career, Germany)

“value [of] the environment in our economy [should be considered]. In capitalism, you need to create continuous growth… we can do that and benefit the planet if the environment had a value in our economies.” (Male, Early Career, UK)

“combination of circular economy approach and EPR [Extended Producer Responsibility], including fines for spillage, supported by [a] tax for packaging [are the most effective and feasible solutions]. [The] main question for me [is]: What works better: E.g. [a] very thin plastic bottle which easily crushes and 'invites' to be thrown in [the] grey bin, versus [a] thicker wall bottle, which costs more material, but which feels safe to be 'store[d]' and [brought] back to [the] shop or [the] plastic recycling system?” (Male, Established Career, Netherlands)

“heavy financial punishment and governmental integrity/independence of lobbyism. [Making] politics for the people not the market.” (Female, Early Career, Germany)

“starting at the top first. Incentivize[ing]/ require[ing] companies to take on responsibility, using all of the tactics that were mentioned in the survey. When companies can make more profit from investing in environmentally friendly alternatives, then we could see a big shift. Alongside of consumer education and awareness.” (Female, Early Career, Germany)

“Behavioural and educational… because it impacts how we act in business, organisations, politics as well as our own lives. Providing well researched knowledge to the masses enables others to make informed decisions, companies to take the right paths and government to enforce change.” (Female, Early Career, UK)

Reduction of plastic production and use

“[…] if you eliminate or minimize the source, you reduce the consequences.” (Female Early Career, Germany)“a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches. The 3 R policy says Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, therefore deposit schemes (reuse) and repair schemes (reuse) should receive more attention and funding when compared to recycle. I do not believe that recycling marine plastics into new products is a good solution due to the ability of plastics to absorb pollutants from their surrounding environment.” (Male, Mid Career, Ireland)“[…] all the ideas to collect material and all the recycling activities are just the second-best solution […] because all the using, collecting und re-using plastics, just produces more and more micro-plastics.” (Male, Established Career, Austria)“[…] prevention is necessary from key point source areas ([e.g.] washing machines, microbead bans, wastewater, landfill leaks).” (Female, Early Career, Netherlands)