Eliminating Plastic: What's The Cost To Our Planet And Wallets?

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that demands urgent attention. It is estimated that the world produces over 200 million tons of plastic waste annually, with more than half of this waste being mismanaged and ending up in the environment. The cost of dealing with plastic waste is significant, with clean-up efforts costing billions of dollars and the environmental impact being even more devastating. The plastic crisis has far-reaching consequences, from the contamination of our food supply and the poisoning of our land and air to the detrimental effects on marine life and ecosystems. While there are reasonable and important uses for plastic, such as in medicine and for people with disabilities, the overreliance on single-use plastic has led to a crisis that requires systemic change. The transition to bioplastics and sustainable alternatives is a step in the right direction, but it comes at a premium. As consumers, we can make conscious choices to reduce plastic waste, and as a global community, we must push for policies and treaties that address plastic pollution at a systemic level.

The cost of plastic pollution to society, the economy and the environment

Plastic pollution has a significant impact on society, the economy, and the environment. The costs associated with plastic waste are extensive and far-reaching, affecting various aspects of our lives.

Society

The social costs of plastic pollution are profound and wide-ranging. Plastic waste is a global issue, affecting communities worldwide, particularly marginalized ones. Incineration plants and oil and gas refineries are often located in low-income and marginalized areas, exposing these communities to health and economic risks. Climate change, which the plastics lifecycle contributes to, disproportionately impacts disadvantaged groups.

Additionally, plastic pollution has severe consequences for human health. Toxic chemicals leach from decomposing plastics, contaminating soil and water sources, and entering the food chain. This contamination poses serious risks to those who unknowingly consume contaminated food or water.

The Economy

The economic costs of plastic pollution are significant, with governments, NGOs, and citizens incurring substantial expenses. The management and disposal of plastic waste are costly, with clean-up operations, collection, sorting, and recycling requiring financial resources. The cost of waste management is particularly high for small island states, which receive a disproportionate amount of the world's plastic waste.

Moreover, plastic pollution leads to substantial economic losses in sectors such as tourism, fishing, and aquaculture. The presence of plastic waste in marine environments can deter tourists, reduce fish stocks, and impact the productivity of aquaculture operations, resulting in revenue losses for these industries.

The Environment

The environmental costs of plastic pollution are extensive and detrimental. Plastic waste contaminates our land, oceans, and biodiversity. Marine life, from whales to sea turtles, suffers unimaginable harm due to plastic debris ingestion or entanglement. Plastic pollution also affects terrestrial ecosystems, as toxic chemicals leach into the soil and water sources, damaging natural habitats and the organisms that depend on them.

The production and disposal of plastic contribute to climate change, exacerbating the environmental impact. Plastic, being durable and long-lasting, persists in the environment for extended periods, with plastic waste accumulating in remote parts of the world, including the Antarctic and deep ocean trenches.

Addressing plastic pollution requires collective efforts and systemic change. Individual choices, such as reducing single-use plastic consumption, are important, but they must be accompanied by policy changes and corporate responsibility to drive effective waste reduction and promote sustainable alternatives.

The cost of removing plastic from small islands

Aldabra Atoll is a remote island group formed from a coral reef and supports an interconnected marine ecosystem of coral reef, mangroves, and seagrass beds. It is home to the last remaining population of Indian Ocean giant tortoises, nesting green turtles, and other endemic species. The plastic waste removed was found to be dominated by litter from the regional fishing industry (83%) and plastic shoes, mostly flip-flops (7%).

The total amount of litter on the coastal areas of Aldabra is estimated to be 513 tonnes, and the total cost of removing this remaining waste is projected to be between $1.95 million and $7.28 million, requiring 18,000 person-hours of labour. This estimate may be conservative as it does not include buried beach debris, which is substantial on some beaches due to wind action and the digging of nesting turtles.

The high cost of removing plastic waste from small islands is a significant burden on these nations, and international funding should be made available to aid clean-up operations to protect vital marine and coastal ecosystems. The arrival of tonnes of plastic litter on these islands compromises the integrity of their ecosystems and increases their vulnerability to climate change. For example, the likelihood of coral disease increases from 4% to 89% when they are in contact with plastic.

The cost of alternatives to plastic

One of the main alternatives to plastic is bioplastic, which is made from renewable sources such as sugarcane. Bioplastics are biodegradable and can be produced from plants, but they often come at a premium. For example, a burger box made from sugarcane is nearly twice as expensive as one made from polystyrene, and a biodegradable takeaway fork made from plant starch costs 3.5 times more than a basic plastic fork. Companies like Coca-Cola and Bulldog Skincare have already made the switch to bioplastic, but it is still too early to determine the full financial impact of this decision.

Another alternative to plastic is glass. Glass bottles can be used instead of plastic bottles for drinks and food items like milk. However, glass bottles are heavier than plastic, requiring more energy for transportation and increasing transport costs by up to five times per bottle. Additionally, glass bottles can be more expensive to produce, with a cost difference of about $0.01 more per bottle compared to plastic, according to some analyses. This increased cost may eventually be passed on to consumers.

The environmental costs of using alternatives to plastic are also significant. A report by the American Chemistry Council and Trucost found that the environmental costs of using alternative packaging like glass, tin, or aluminum in the soft drinks industry would be five times higher than using plastic. Trucost's study "Plastics and Sustainability" further supports this, finding that replacing plastics in consumer products and packaging with alternative materials would increase environmental costs from $139 billion to $533 billion annually. This is because plastics are lightweight and require less material, providing environmental benefits throughout their lifecycle.

While the costs of alternatives to plastic are high, it is important to consider the long-term impact of plastic pollution on the environment and society. Plastic waste has infiltrated every part of our planet, from remote parts of the Antarctic to the deepest ocean trenches. The lifetime cost of plastic produced in 2019 alone was estimated at US$3.7 trillion, and this cost is set to double for the plastic produced in 2040 if no action is taken. Marine plastic pollution also creates economic losses, with an estimated cost of up to US$7 billion in GDP reductions for 2018. Therefore, while alternatives to plastic may incur higher costs in the short term, they may ultimately be necessary to mitigate the growing environmental and economic impact of plastic pollution.

The cost of waste management

Plastic pollution imposes significant costs on society, the environment, and the economy. The lifetime cost of plastic produced in 2019 alone was estimated at US$3.7 trillion, exceeding the GDP of India. This cost is projected to double for the plastic produced in 2040 if no action is taken.

The economic impact of marine plastic pollution is also substantial. It can lead to reductions in GDP, with an estimated loss of up to US$7 billion in 2018 alone. This loss in revenue is attributed to declines in tourism, fishing, aquaculture, and other sectors affected by plastic pollution.

Small island states bear a disproportionate burden of the cost of plastic waste management. For instance, the removal of plastic litter from Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, cost approximately \$224,537, equating to around \$10,000 per day of clean-up operations or \$8,900 per tonne of litter. It is estimated that removing the remaining 513 tonnes of litter will cost approximately $4.68 million and require 18,000 person-hours of labour.

The transition to alternative packaging materials can also come at a premium. For instance, a burger box made from sugarcane is nearly twice as expensive as one made from polystyrene, and a biodegradable takeaway fork made from plant starch costs 3.5 times more than a basic white plastic fork.

While the environmental and societal benefits of reducing plastic waste are undeniable, the financial costs associated with waste management and clean-up efforts are substantial. These costs highlight the urgency of addressing the plastic crisis through systemic change, international treaties, and individual actions to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste.

The cost of plastic to human health

Plastic pollution is a menace to society and the environment, with a lifetime cost to society, the economy, and the environment of plastic produced in 2019 of US$3.7 trillion, exceeding India's GDP. Humans are exposed to plastics through daily life products, food, and airborne plastic pollution, with children, women, waste sector workers, and marginalized communities being particularly vulnerable.

The plastic lifecycle, from extraction to disposal, negatively impacts human health and rights. For instance, plastic production affects human health, with associated chemicals like PBDE, BPA, and DEHP costing over $920 billion in the US in 2015 for diseases and disabilities. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics pose a significant threat to public health, with an estimated $250 billion in additional healthcare costs in the US in 2018. These chemicals can cause preterm birth, reduced sperm count, childhood obesity, kidney failure, gestational diabetes, cancer, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments in developing fetuses and children.

The economic costs of plastic pollution are substantial, with increased waste management costs of over $32 billion annually and marine plastic pollution causing GDP reductions of up to $7 billion in 2018. Incineration plants and oil and gas refineries, often located in marginalized communities, expose them to health and economic risks.

The impact of plastic pollution is not limited to human health but also extends to biodiversity and climate change. The accumulation of plastic waste in marine ecosystems underlines the necessity of cleanup efforts, despite the high financial cost.

While bioplastics are an alternative, they are more expensive. For example, a biodegradable takeaway fork made from plant starch costs 3.5 times more than a basic white plastic fork. Despite the costs, some companies, like Bulldog and Coca-Cola, have already switched to bioplastics, recognizing the importance of reducing plastic pollution.

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