Plastic Pollution Assessment Methodologies Suitability Toolkit (PLAST)

Before downloading the PLAST Toolkit, please open and follow the Quick Start Guide

In response to the plastic pollution crisis, many methodologies for quantification of plastic pollution have been developed. However, the breadth of these plastic pollution assessment methodologies makes it difficult for practitioners to assess which methods are best suited to their needs. The ‘Plastic Pollution Assessment Methodologies Suitability Toolkit’ (PLAST) has been designed to characterize and compare plastic pollution assessment methodologies and generalized methodological approaches to suggest the most suitable options based on a user’s requirements. PLAST focuses on quantification assessments whereby the amounts of plastic pollution are determined, and insight into sources, pathways, and fates are provided.

PLAST is designed to aid all users interested in applying plastic pollution assessment methodologies, such as governments, NGOs, local authorities, businesses, academia, and developers. These users include both those wanting to apply a methodology to assess plastic pollution and those looking to understanding how different methodologies compare.

PLAST has four objectives: (1) To collate methodologies available for the assessment of plastic pollution; (2) To characterize assessment methodologies according to an explanatory framework; (3) To suggest what broad methodological approaches may be best suited based on a user’s overall objectives and generalized resources; (4) To suggest suitable plastic pollution assessment methodologies based on a user’s specific technical- and policy-related objectives and data availability.

PLAST has been developed using Microsoft Excel and harnesses Visual Basic for Application to provide an intuitive and interactive graphical user interface for users. To ensure smooth operation of PLAST, it is necessary to first review the Quick Start Guide and training video. Users can also refer to the User Manual and FAQs for further support.

Upon opening the PLAST Toolkit, after first following the set-up process described in the Quick Start Guide, users are required to first read the disclaimers and watch the training video. Users will then progress to the assessment page where they will input their needs and available resources through a series of questions across Part A, B, and C of the toolkit (at the top of page, as shown in the below figure). This includes both binary ‘Yes/No’ questions as well as graded questions for the user to state how important a particular feature or output is to them. PLAST works by initially categorizing each plastic pollution assessment methodology based on a framework of important features, such as scope, outputs, and data requirements. PLAST automatically scores and ranks the assessment methodologies against these criteria. On the right side of the page, users are provided with results on the relative suitability of different methodological approaches as well as a comparison of the top three suggested assessment methodologies.

If users click the ‘Compare’ button on the page as shown above, they are directed to a PDF document that displays both the results of the relative suitability of methodological approaches and a comparison of the top three suggested. In addition, a radar diagram is displayed providing a visual comparison between the top 3 suggested methodologies. If users click the ‘View All’ button, they are directed to a pop-up window that displays information on each of the plastic pollution assessment methodologies included within PLAST. This includes all methodologies, not just those deemed suitable.

PLAST was developed by a team from the University of Leeds, Deltares and IUCN. Funding was provided by PROBLUE, an umbrella multi-donor trust fund, administered by the World Bank, that supports the sustainable and integrated development of marine and coastal resources in healthy oceans.

Links:

• Quick Start Guide
• Training Video 
• PLAST Toolkit
• User Manual
• FAQs and Troubleshooting