Plásticos de un solo uso, relaciones de poder entre ambiente, economía y la política ambiental implícita 2019-2022

Abstract

Pollution caused by single-use plastics has become a global problem, affecting every corner of the world with the massive accumulation of this type of waste in different ecosystems, especially in bodies of water, causing serious environmental, social, and economic impacts. Scientific evidence indicates that this material does not decompose, but rather fragments over time into increasingly smaller particles, known as microplastics and nanoplastics. Colombia is not exempt from this problem, as it faces increasing pollution in its coastal areas, both in the Pacific and the Caribbean, affecting both the fishing and tourism sectors. In Colombia, government efforts to mitigate pollution through public policies and regulations have been insufficient. Despite their formulation, these measures have not generated effective results due to weak implementation and a lack of commitment from the public and private sectors. The solution requires joint action by the State, society, and the educational system to achieve true environmental change (Hernández, 2017).

This research seeks to establish power relations through the analysis of value systems and thus identify prioritized interests in the implicit environmental policy surrounding single-use plastics. The research methodology uses a qualitative approach that incorporates elements of the socio-critical paradigm with a hermeneutic approach. This approach is based on the content analysis of implicit environmental policies such as the National Plan for the Sustainable Management of Single-Use Plastics and Law No. 2232 of 2022, identifying the multiple assessments contained within the textual corpus.