The War On Plastic: Why Do People Hate It?

Plastic is a material that is deeply intertwined with our modern lives. It is used in nearly every industry, from food to cars to footwear. While it is incredibly useful, it also contributes to waste, pollution, and packaging waste. The plastic problem is not just about the environment; it's also about human health and the health of future generations. People are exposed to plastics through daily life products, plastic-based medical supplies, the food chain, and airborne plastic pollution. The shift in thinking about plastic started with the public outcry over microbeads, which are small, abrasive grains of plastic that companies began pouring into cosmetic and cleaning products. The realization that microbeads were pouring down millions of shower drains was a key moment in the public turn against plastic.

Plastic packaging is hard to avoid, with most retailers still using it

Plastic is everywhere, and it's hard to avoid. A trip to the store often results in multiple plastic bags and items in plastic packaging. Even online shopping, which sometimes has a lower carbon footprint than shopping in-store, results in additional plastic packaging. This is because packaging items in plastic is often the cheapest option for brands.

Although many innovative, eco-friendly companies have grown in popularity, most mainstream retailers across all industries continue to use plastic packaging. This disconnects companies from the desires of their customers and the demands of the planet. For example, a survey by Oceana found that 87% of consumers think major online retailers should curb their plastic packaging use. Amazon alone generated an estimated 465 million pounds of plastic packaging in 2019.

The production and disposal of plastic packaging have detrimental effects on the environment. Plastic manufacturing is energy-intensive and emits greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming. Plastic waste ends up in landfills and the natural environment, threatening wildlife, altering ecosystems, and posing risks to human health. More than 90% of plastic waste since the 1950s has been landfilled or disposed of in nature, with 8 million tons dumped in the ocean annually.

Despite the availability of eco-friendly alternatives, plastic packaging is still prevalent due to its low cost and convenience. Companies need to listen to their customers and make better choices to reduce their environmental impact. Consumers can also play a part by reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste and supporting sustainable brands.

Plastic is often cheaper for companies to use than eco-friendly alternatives

People's hatred for plastic is justified, given the extensive environmental damage it causes. Scientific evidence has shown the harm done by plastic to the environment, which has spurred people to organise and pressure governments to regulate its use. Plastic pollution is found all around the globe and negatively affects people and the environment at every stage of its lifecycle – from the extraction of fossil fuels to production, manufacturing, use, recycling, and disposal. It can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change, and directly affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being. Ocean pollution, for example, poses a health risk to more than three billion people. Plastic is also found in the air, soil, and food chain, with humans exposed to plastics through daily life products, plastic-based medical supplies, and airborne plastic pollution.

While many innovative, eco-friendly companies have gained popularity in recent years, most mainstream retailers across all industries continue to use plastic. This disconnect between companies and consumers is often due to the cost of packaging. Plastic packaging, including for e-commerce shipping, is often the cheapest option for brands. It is lighter and more cost-effective than other materials, making it easier to justify throwing away. Recycling plastic often isn't worth the cost, and less than 2% of plastic waste produced since the 1950s has been recycled, with more than 90% landfilled or disposed of in the natural environment.

Despite the availability of eco-friendly alternatives, companies often choose plastic due to its low cost and convenience. This decision risks alienating environmentally conscious customers, who increasingly prefer sustainable brands and are willing to pay a premium for recycled products. Consumers are actively buying more environmentally friendly products, with 81% expecting to buy even more over the next five years.

The push for plastic by companies demonstrates a disconnect from the desires of their customers and the demands of the planet. It prioritises short-term financial gains over the long-term environmental and social well-being of the planet and its inhabitants. The widespread use of plastic is a result of its affordability and convenience, rather than its necessity or benefit.

While plastic may be cheaper for companies in the short term, the environmental and health costs of its use are significant. The true cost of plastic is borne by people and the planet, highlighting the urgent need for companies to transition to eco-friendly alternatives.

Plastic waste is harmful to the environment and human health

Additionally, plastic waste is harmful due to the presence of toxic chemicals. Carcinogenic chemicals found in plastic products can leach into tap water, potentially causing various health issues, including developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles measuring up to 5mm in length, have been found in human livers, kidneys, and placentas, as well as in tap water, bottled water, seafood, and commonly consumed beverages. These microplastics can carry harmful chemicals, which can then enter the human body, leading to potential health issues such as endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, and decreased reproductive health.

The widespread use of plastic in packaging and consumer products has also led to an increase in municipal solid waste streams, posing significant environmental challenges. The packaging sector is the largest generator of single-use plastic waste, with approximately 36% of all plastics produced being used for packaging. This includes single-use plastic food and beverage containers, with 85% ending up in landfills or mismanaged waste. Despite recycling efforts, less than 2% of plastic waste produced since the 1950s has been recycled, indicating the magnitude of the plastic waste problem.

To address the harmful impacts of plastic waste, systemic change is necessary. This includes moving away from a linear plastic economy, where plastic is produced, used, and discarded, to a circular plastic economy where plastic is kept in use for as long as possible. Individuals can also play a role by reducing their plastic consumption, reusing and recycling plastic products, and supporting sustainable brands. Governments and industries must also take responsibility by implementing policies and innovations that reduce plastic waste and promote environmentally friendly alternatives.

Plastic is not always recycled and can end up in landfills or the natural environment

People's growing awareness of the impact of their purchases has led to a worldwide revolt against plastic. Consumers are increasingly opting for environmentally friendly products and are willing to pay a premium for recycled items. However, despite consumers' best efforts, plastic is not always recycled and can end up in landfills or the natural environment.

Recycling rates are notoriously low, with less than 10% of plastic in the US being recycled annually. Even if recycling rates were to increase, recycled plastic can only be transformed into a limited number of new products. This means there will always be a higher demand for new plastic. The low recycling rates of plastic can be attributed to various factors, such as the cost of recycling, which often makes it unviable, and consumer confusion regarding plastic recycling procedures. As a result, the vast majority of plastic waste ends up in landfills or the natural environment, contributing to the planet's growing plastic pollution problem.

The environmental, social, economic, and health risks associated with plastic pollution are significant. Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change and directly affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being. It is found in the soil, oceans, and even the air we breathe, threatening food security, health, and the environment. Plastic pollution in the oceans has reached a point where it impacts the health of over three billion people, and microplastics have been detected in human blood and lung tissue.

The issue of plastic pollution is interconnected with other environmental stressors, such as climate change, ecosystem degradation, and resource use. It is not an isolated problem but a symptom of our past decades of rampant consumption. Plastic took over because it was lighter and cheaper, making it easier to justify throwing it away. This has resulted in a vicious cycle where plastic waste continues to accumulate, causing severe consequences for the planet and humanity.

Microplastics are pervasive and have been found in human blood and lungs

Plastic is a highly controversial material, with many consumers actively seeking to reduce their plastic usage and buy more environmentally friendly products. Despite this, most mainstream retailers continue to use plastic packaging, often because it is the cheapest option.

The pervasiveness of plastic is a major concern, with around 80% of the 300 million metric tons of plastic produced annually ending up in landfills and the environment. Microplastics, which can range from 10 nanometers to 5 millimeters in diameter, are now so widespread that they contaminate the entire planet, from Mount Everest to the deepest oceans.

The presence of microplastics in the human body has been a particular cause for alarm. In 2022, microplastics were detected in human blood for the first time, with scientists finding the particles in almost 80% of the people tested. The particles can attach to the outer membranes of red blood cells and may impair their ability to transport oxygen. They have also been found in the placentas of pregnant women and have been shown to pass rapidly through the lungs into the hearts, brains, and other organs of fetuses in pregnant rats.

Further research has identified microplastics in human lung tissue, with higher levels detected in the lower regions of the lungs than in the upper and middle regions. This is particularly concerning as the particles were small enough to be inhaled and were not filtered out or trapped before reaching the deep lung tissue. The health impacts of microplastics in the human body are not yet fully understood, but researchers are concerned as microplastics have been shown to cause damage to human cells in laboratory studies.

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