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Channelling passion for the ocean towards plastic pollution

Plastic pollution is caused exclusively by humans. It poses growing global threats to both the ocean and society, and requires urgent action. Using psychological principles can motivate and implement change by connecting symptoms and sources.

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Fig. 1: An illustration of visual communications added to consumer items.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. P. White for comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sabine Pahl.

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Pahl, S., Wyles, K.J. & Thompson, R.C. Channelling passion for the ocean towards plastic pollution. Nat Hum Behav 1, 697–699 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-017-0204-4

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