Data & Analytics play a vital role in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) specifically emphasizes the need to enhance the availability of high-quality, timely, and reliable data. Accurate data and insightful analytics are essential for assessing progress, identifying gaps, making informed decisions, and creating effective policies related to each of the SDGs. For instance, they can help enhance education systems (SDG 4), optimize health services (SDG 3), reduce poverty (SDG 1), and mitigate climate change impacts (SDG 13). Moreover, advances in data collection methods, including mobile technology and remote sensing, can provide valuable insights for achieving sustainability. Therefore, robust data and analytics are integral to monitoring and accomplishing the SDGs.
Nanoplastic is an emerging topic of relevance in environmental science. The analytical methods for microplastic have a particle size limit of a few micrometers so that new methods have to be developed to cover the nanometer range. This contribution reviews the progress in environmental nanoplastic analysis and critically evaluates which techniques from nanomaterial analysis may potentially be adapted to close the methodological gap. A roadmap is brought forward for the whole analytical process from sample treatment to particle characterization.