Journal of African Development

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the twenty-first century. While municipal waste and consumer products are often highlighted as major contributors, chemical factories involved in the production of polymers, plastic additives, and petrochemical feedstocks represent a significant but relatively underexplored source of environmental contamination. Plastic pellets, industrial effluents, packaging waste, and accidental releases from manufacturing facilities contribute substantially to terrestrial, freshwater, and marine pollution. The environmental consequences extend beyond ecological degradation and include threats to human health, food security, biodiversity, and economic sustainability. Immediate policy concerns focus on regulatory compliance, waste management, pollution monitoring, and industrial accountability. However, the issue is deeply rooted in broader structural economic and developmental systems characterized by increasing plastic demand, fossil-fuel dependence, inadequate circular economy mechanisms, and unequal environmental governance. This review examines the sources and pathways of plastic pollution originating from chemical factories, evaluates existing literature on environmental and socio-economic impacts, discusses current policy frameworks and industrial practices, and identifies future directions for sustainable development. The review emphasizes the need for integrated approaches involving technological innovation, regulatory reforms, circular economy principles, and international cooperation to address both immediate and long-term challenges associated with industrial plastic pollution.