Nexus between trade, industrialization, and marine pollution: A quantile regression approach

•Trade openness and industrialization play a key role in marine pollution.•Ocean plastic pollution is critically impacted by rising population.•The direct environmental impact of trade is limited.•The indirect effect mediated by intensive industrialization is high. In the recent decades, developing nations aim to industrialize and grow sustainably often ignoring the environmental consequences. However, few empirical studies have looked at the influence of industrialization-driven economic transition on marine pollution, in particular post trade openness. This paper analyzes the nexus between trade openness, industrialization, and marine pollution. The study uses time series data (1995–2022) and applies quantile regression to analyze the impact of trade openness and industrialization on marine pollution. The finding of this study suggested that trade openness and industrialization have a significant positive impact on marine pollution. Trade activities and rapid transition towards industrialization enforced large industrial inputs resulting marine pollution. In general, industrial wastewater contains heavy metals, organic compounds, and toxic chemicals, and causes marine pollution and disturb the marine life if not treated properly. Thus, improper waste management and mitigation leads to marine pollution. Therefore, implications of strategic policy that integrates trade, industrialization, and environmental is of prime concern and need to be address for effective marine pollution mitigation and control. To minimize the environmental effects of trade and industrial operations, developed and developing nations should promote sustainable industrial practices and enforced stricter regulations in international trade.