During this course, I have started to view plastic pollution not just as an environmental issue, but as part of a much larger and interconnected system. Systems thinking helped me realize how plastic use is deeply tied to global production chains, consumer behavior, marketing strategies, and waste management policies.

 

I used to believe that the solution lies mostly in individual responsibility — like avoiding plastic bags or bottles. But now I see that real change requires redesigning the whole system: from product design and materials to legislation and economic incentives.

 

This perspective has made me more aware that many environmental problems, including plastic waste, cannot be solved in isolation. Systems thinking encourages us to look at the feedback loops, leverage points, and actors within the system to create meaningful change.

 

It also raised more questions for me:

• Who controls the production and packaging choices?

• What would it take to shift the system toward reusable or biodegradable alternatives?

• How can public awareness be increased within this system?

 

This course has definitely broadened my understanding and helped me recognize how important a systems approach is when addressing planetary well-being.