Maya Ellison
Plastic is everywhere, from the bags we use to carry our shopping to the toys we give to our children. It is a material that has revolutionised the way we live, offering convenience, durability and affordability. However, our love affair with plastic has a dark side. Single-use plastics are choking the environment, endangering our health and driving climate change. With plastic waste accumulating in our oceans and ecosystems, it is clear that our addiction to plastic is contributing to a global crisis. While some companies are piloting reuse and refill systems, much more needs to be done to address the problem. This includes industry innovation, government regulation and a shift in consumer behaviour away from throwaway culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic is durable | Plastic bags can withstand heavy weights without breaking |
| Plastic is widely useful | Plastic is used for packaging, serviceware, surgical gloves, etc. |
| Plastic is addictive | Plastic is convenient and affordable |
| Plastic is harmful | Plastic is choking the environment, endangering health, and driving climate change |
| Plastic is non-biodegradable | Plastic can take up to 450 years to biodegrade |
| Plastic is a waste | Plastic is often used to create gifts that are not meaningful |
| Plastic is a pollutant | Plastic waste ends up in the ocean, causing microplastics to enter our bodies |
| Plastic is non-recyclable | Cheap plastic cannot be recycled |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic is choking the environment, endangering health and driving climate change
Plastic is everywhere. A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar—each item seems harmless. However, our addiction to plastic has evolved into a crisis, threatening the environment, human health, and our climate.
Plastic is derived from fossil fuels, including natural gas and crude oil, and is meant to be disposed of right after use. Because of this, plastic production emits greenhouse gases at every point in its life cycle, from the initial process of drilling for the oil and gas that make up its building blocks to the incineration that often occurs at the end of a plastic product’s life. The extraction, refining, and manufacture of plastics are all carbon-intensive activities, and the incineration of plastic waste releases significant greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. In fact, the plastics industry is currently responsible for four times more greenhouse gas emissions than the airline industry.
The impact of plastic pollution is felt everywhere, from the biodiversity and wildlife of an area to human health and human rights. Plastic does not decompose but breaks up into smaller pieces called microplastics, which are now practically everywhere on Earth. These microplastics can cause serious health issues for humans and wildlife, such as intestinal blockages and hormonal imbalances. At least 1,565 wildlife species have been found to have accidentally ingested plastic, and millions of marine animals die each year because of plastic entanglement and ingestion.
The crisis is not inevitable. People are increasingly looking for alternatives to single-use plastics, and communities are banning single-use plastics. Stretchy seaweed, reverse vending machines, QR-coded takeout boxes, and reusable containers are all ways to reduce our dependence on single-use plastics.
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Plastic is made from fossil fuels, a scarce resource
Plastic is a human invention that has become pervasive in modern society. The first commercially produced plastic, Bakelite, was invented by chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland in 1907. It was produced by synthesizing coal tar and wood alcohol. During World War II, the US Military began to experiment with more universal uses for plastic, and chemists started working with fossil fuels to create plastics. Following the war, commercial plastic demand greatly increased, and manufacturers began to rely on fossil fuels to make their products cheaper.
Today, over 99% of plastic is made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels account for over 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and as plastic is a byproduct of the fossil fuel industry, it is just as destructive. The production and use of plastic contribute to climate change throughout its life cycle. Fossil fuel-generated plastics are directly tied to increases in greenhouse gas emissions annually, and plastic waste is polluting our air and water.
The global annual production of plastic has increased exponentially over the past 65 years, growing from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 460 million metric tons in 2019. The current levels of production are already unsustainable, yet the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that global plastic use will triple by 2060. The fossil fuel industry is counting on this dramatic increase in plastic use to maintain profit margins as the world moves towards renewable energy.
The negative impacts of plastic are far-reaching and dangerous. Plastic waste often ends up in our oceans and our bodies in the form of microplastics. Plastic is so durable that it can take hundreds or even thousands of years to decompose, and it is polluting our planet and harming wildlife. Despite the known dangers of plastic pollution, the industry is investing billions in expanding plastic production. This wave of investment increases pollution risks and directly undermines efforts to combat the growing plastic crisis.
It is time for policymakers and society as a whole to recognize that plastics are just a different form of fossil fuels and that we need to reduce our reliance on them, especially single-use plastics and unnecessary plastic packaging. We need to break society's absurd addiction to single-use plastics and find alternative solutions to combat the plastic crisis.
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Plastic is hard to recycle
Plastic is a generic term for hundreds of thousands of different products, each with its own unique properties and materials. This makes plastic incredibly hard to recycle, as there isn't one overarching solution.
Firstly, plastic is often contaminated with oil and grease, making it harder to recycle. Secondly, plastic waste needs to be sorted into separate polymer streams, which is a challenging and expensive process. Mechanical recycling, for example, works best with single-polymer plastic, but a lot of plastic is multi-layer and multi-polymer.
Additionally, plastic has limited value as a recycled material due to its loss in quality. The quality of plastic degrades every time it is reheated for melting to make a new product, unlike materials such as aluminium, which can be melted and reformed without losing its quality.
Another issue is that households lump all plastics together for recycling, but they have to be carefully sorted by type. This is challenging and expensive for municipalities and other organizations. Furthermore, plastic items are often mixed into a large pile and are hard to mass identify, separate, and clean for individual recycling production streams.
Lastly, the process of recycling plastic is energy-intensive and economically challenging. While it is easy to create plastic, recycling it requires going "back up the hill", which is far more difficult.
Despite these challenges, it is important to note that some organizations are working to recycle hard-to-recycle plastics and give them a second life. For example, they can be transformed into plastic pellets for product filler, warehouse pallets, or planter pots.
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Plastic is durable and useful
Plastic is a versatile material with numerous applications in human life. Its durability, flexibility, and strength make it a widely used resource.
The chemical structure of plastics, with their long, noodle-like molecules, makes them highly durable. This durability is a key factor in the success and dominance of plastics since the early 20th century. Plastic has found essential uses in various sectors, including medical devices, construction materials, vehicles, and plumbing.
The adaptability of plastic, combined with its low weight, chemical resistance, low toxicity, and low-cost production, has led to its widespread adoption. Plastic is often chosen for its strength and safety in critical applications. For example, the sewage systems in many countries rely on the resilience of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is also used in construction and pipes due to its durability.
Additionally, plastic's durability contributes to its longevity, making it suitable for consistent long-term use. However, this very durability becomes a concern when plastic waste accumulates in the environment. The slow decomposition rate of plastic in natural ecosystems has led to widespread environmental concerns.
Despite the usefulness of plastic, there is a growing awareness of the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic products to minimise their environmental impact. While plastic has its advantages, the challenge of managing plastic waste and its potential harm to human health and the environment cannot be overlooked.
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Plastic is cheap and convenient
The convenience of plastic is evident in its widespread use for packaging and serviceware, such as bags, bottles, wrappers, and straws. Single-use plastics, in particular, have become extremely popular due to their convenience and affordability. However, this popularity has led to a plastic waste crisis, with plastic waste accumulating in our streets, oceans, and ecosystems. Plastic waste is not only an eyesore but also endangers marine life, pollutes our environment, and endangers our health.
The production and use of plastic have increased significantly over the years, with the world doubling its plastic production between 2000 and 2019. By 2040, plastic use and production are expected to rise by 70% compared to 2020 levels. This increasing plastic consumption contributes to the growing waste problem, as plastic can take up to 450 years to biodegrade, if it ever does.
While plastic has important uses, such as in surgical gloves, single-use plastic makes up a large portion of plastic waste. The convenience and affordability of plastic have led to a throwaway culture, where people prioritize convenience over durability and long-term impacts. This is evident in the frustration expressed by parents about the abundance of cheap plastic toys and gifts that break easily and are discarded, setting a bad example for children about gift-giving.
To address the plastic waste crisis, industries can design biodegradable or more recyclable plastics and reduce unnecessary plastic use. Policies and government frameworks can also spur action, with bottle bill laws, for example, increasing corporate responsibility for waste while providing incentives for consumers to recycle. While plastic may be cheap and convenient, it is essential to consider its environmental and health impacts and work towards more sustainable solutions.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is popular due to its durability, affordability, and convenience. It is also widely used because it is made from oil, which is cheap and abundant.
"Plastic crap" often refers to single-use plastic items such as plastic bags, packaging, bottles, wrappers, straws, and disposable takeout containers. It also includes cheap plastic toys and party favors that are easily broken and discarded.
Plastic crap contributes to environmental damage, endangers health, and drives climate change. It accumulates as waste, pollutes oceans, and releases harmful chemicals into the ecosystem and our bodies.
People often prioritize convenience and affordability over long-term durability and environmental considerations. The use of plastic is also influenced by marketing and the availability of alternatives.
Education, regulation, and the development of biodegradable and recyclable plastics can help reduce plastic waste. Initiatives such as Reusables, which provide reusable containers for a fee, offer alternatives to single-use plastic. Policies and frameworks can also encourage companies to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling.
