Can We Let Go of Plastic?

 Plastic pollution is a huge environmental issue that is affecting every corner of the world. This past month I heard many shocking statistics and facts about how plastic has taken over. Specifically, I was listening to the“Green and Gritty” podcast where they talked about Greenwashing. One host mentioned how when the “plastic straw revolution” occurred Starbucks decided to replace their dome lid and straw with a sippy cup, a great way to reduce plastic waste! Or so we thought. She continued to explain that the new sippy cup contained more plastic than the previous straw and lid combination, so in reality, it was a step backwards. Hearing this news was shocking to me, hence I decided to do some digging into the plastic kingdom the earth has become and why we cannot escape it. 

 

 The current state of plastic pollution on this planet is horrifying. We produce 381 million tonnes of plastic waste yearly (this is expected to double by 2034), there are 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of our ocean and 1 in 3 fish caught for human consumption contain plastic. The statistics are endless and are not getting better. When the coronavirus hit, single-use plastic production increased exponentially with 129 billion face masks used each month. To put things in perspective, if we stitched all the masks manufactured and projected to produce, we would be able to cover Switzerland. It is a daunting fact to everyday consumers such as us, but are our daily actions the reason for the plastic pandemic? A new study showed that 20 companies are responsible for half of the single-use plastic items thrown away, and 100 companies are the source of 90% of them, most being petrochemical companies. These businesses generate the world’s single-use plastic from fossil fuels, making them responsible for the non-recyclable waste. Environmentalists plead that plastic is produced from recycled materials instead of virgin polymers from oil, gas and coal feedstocks, but no changes have occurred. Why are companies so resistant to using recycled plastics? It comes down to the root of why no new environmental technologies are implemented: it isn't cost-effective. Once the plastic is discarded, it’s worthless and cheaper for the petrochemical companies to make plastic with new materials. All hope is not lost as countries continue to implement stronger regulations for companies to make their products recyclable, biodegradable or reusable, along with other exciting ideas. 

 

First, let’s discuss how plastic started evading our planet. The first human-made plastic was created in 1862 yet wasn't used much. The domination began when mass-produced plastic was invented in 1907, that’s only 114 years ago! It was after World War II when all the military factories got converted to production factories that made polyethene and polypropylene (the base of most plastics). As households got richer, they started buying practical single-use plastic items such as diapers, pens, razors and especially plastic packaging. This was an adjustment as before 1907 all packaging and daily items were made from reusable materials such as glass and cloth and were never discarded immediately. Now, since 2000 the production of virgin plastic has grown by 4% each year (as seen in the figure below), a massive and damaging difference. 

 

This dangerous plastic rise is becoming more and more of a concern as it does not only pollute our planet but also contributes to climate change. Individual lifestyle changes, plastic bans and regular cleanups are great short-term solutions for an area however, experts believe we need a systematic change. Currently, the plastic life cycle is a linear “take-make-waste” model as virgin plastics are made and then end up as trash after one use. Instead of this linear process, many want to create a circular economy for plastic. A circular economy is a system in which materials are designed to be used and not “used up”. To create this circular system, companies will need to make a lot of changes in their practices. One such is to eliminate plastics that are not needed, often in packaging. Reuse models have shown that 20% of plastic packaging can be eliminated and be economically advantageous to companies. Secondly, the plastic production system needs to change overall. Most plastics should be made from recyclable materials and all virgin plastics should be produced from renewable energies, not fossil fuels. Finally, governments will need to set up better collection services for waste which will keep used plastics within the economy. Overall, this system would encompass three main goals: Eliminate unnecessary plastic, innovate plastic production and circulate plastics to keep them out of the environment. 

 

Andrew Forrest, an Australian businessman with a PhD in marine ecology agrees that we need to convert to a circular economy, and has an interesting method to do so. As mentioned before, about 100 companies are responsible for the plastic waste on this earth, Forrest believes that those companies should pay a financial contribution for using fossil-fuel-based plastic. Specifically, he wants petrochemical companies to raise the value of the building blocks of virgin plastic, the increase will be very small for the everyday consumer. In the end, this change will make plastic an article of value, whereas now it is almost worthless. The extra money made from the increase in plastic price will be used to transition the industry to be more sustainable. With this, recycled plastic would finally be in the market as its price would be comparable to virgin plastic and would allow companies to invest in recycling plants. As an established businessman, Forrest was able to talk to major brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi and found that these companies are willing to follow this plan as long as it is fair within the market. Therefore, full transparency of every business's plastic waste is needed, as this will incentivize companies to use recycled plastics to please their consumers. Andrew Forrest has committed US$300 million through his organization, Minderoo Foundation, to put this plan in action. It gives us hope that we can reach a world where virgin plastic isn't continually poisoning our planet, however, there is a lot of work ahead of us. I'll end with this great quote which embodies how we need to deal with plastic pollution:  

 

If your bathtub was overflowing, you wouldn’t immediately reach for a mop — you’d first turn off the tap.

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