A Comprehensive Clustering-Based Analysis of the Impact of Plastic Ban on Ocean-Dependent Industries

Plastic ban in marine habitats has pushed global governments to impose stringent plastic bans. These regulations, while necessary for environmental protection, have far-reaching economic consequences, particularly for ocean-dependent companies. This study uses powerful unsupervised clustering methods to provide a detailed analysis of the economic impact of plastic restrictions on various businesses. Using K-means with Manhattan and Minkowski distance metrics, as well as spectral clustering, we hope to find hidden patterns in the economic disturbances produced by these prohibitions. The employment of multiple distance metrics in K-means enables robust evaluation across diverse data distributions, whereas spectral clustering captures complicated non-linear correlations. Our findings show that different sectors of the marine economy face varying degrees of financial stress, providing insight into how these companies respond to regulatory changes. This study contributes to our current understanding of the socioeconomic effects of environmental regulations by providing data-driven insights to help improve decision-making and policy formulation for sustainable ocean management. The findings of this study further highlight the necessity for sector-specific interventions, as the economic impact is not uniformly distributed across all industries. For instance, fisheries and tourism-related businesses are particularly vulnerable, while shipping and offshore energy sectors show more resilience to the regulations. Additionally, the study reveals regional disparities in how businesses are affected, with smaller island nations bearing a disproportionate burden due to their reliance on ocean-based industries. By incorporating unsupervised clustering, this analysis provides a nuanced view of these impacts, highlighting the importance of tailored regulatory frameworks. Policymakers can leverage these findings to balance environmental sustainability with economic vitality in oceandependent regions.