Identifying and managing ship paint microplastic pollution along the supply chain: a shipbuilding case study

Abstract

Paint fragments, often linked to ship paint, contribute to more than half of the microplastic pollution in the ocean and waterways. This case study analyses the upstream impact on microplastic pollution in the shipbuilding industry. We evaluate the supply chain activities and decisions related to ship paint and examine how these can impact microplastic pollution. This study is the first to document the possible sources of ship paint microplastic pollution during shipbuilding supply chain activities. We show that specific ‘engineer-to-order’ shipbuilding project characteristics, strategies and paint related operations can lead to decisions which impact microplastic pollution across the project life cycle. The challenges associated with managing this type of pollutant are linked to a lack of regulations, market-based policies and prevailing cost-benefit approaches in the absence of the first two. We discuss the study's contributions and proffer managerial and policy related strategies for managing this marine pollution problem within the industry.