Happy Plastic-Free July!
This blog was written collaboratively, by two members of the 2023-2024 World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council: Daffa Praditya (Indonesia) & Sabriyah Madhi (South Africa).
“Plastic waste is now found in the most remote areas of the planet. It kills marine life and is doing major harm to communities that depend on fishing and tourism.” – António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.
It may seem counterintuitive, but plastics were originally created to address environmental issues.
In the mid-1800’s, humans began creating synthetic or artificial polymers, what we now know as plastic, to reduce dependence on natural resources such as ivory from elephants. Despite this origin story, plastics have now created one of the largest environmental challenges of the 21st century. (Science History Institute, 2023).
According to a 2021 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over 400 million tons of plastic is produced per year. (IUCN, 2024). Of the plastic produced, approximately 14 million tons ends up in the ocean every year. These figures are shocking, especially considering that plastic production is increasing globally. Even more shocking, only 9% of the total plastics produced each year is successfully recycled worldwide. (OECD, 2022).
Additionally, plastic has led to a huge increase in death of wildlife everywhere on our planet. For instance, fish in the North Pacific ingest between 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year. In a recent study, data showed that a quarter of fish at markets in California, USA, contained plastics in their bodies, mostly in the form of plastic microfibers. Beyond that, roughly 60% of all seabird species have been confirmed to have eaten plastics, which is predicted to increase to 99% of species by 2050. Researchers believe that half of the sea turtle population worldwide has ingested plastic.
This brings us to an important question: What can we do?
How can we protect animals worldwide? A great start is to look at the “Global Plastic Treaty” that is currently being debated by nations of the world.
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) has stated their intent to help strengthen and support global coordination of immediate action towards a long-term elimination of plastic pollution worldwide. The treaty is still progressing through the drafting process and plans to be finalized by the end of this year. It is during this process that each member state will propose their own solutions. This provides an opportunity for people around the globe to voice their concerns, and contribute to collective action.
The treaty aims to transform the way plastic is being used throughout its lifecycle, with the primary goals of developing circular economies, and establishing global cooperation in addressing existing plastic pollution. Moreover, we need to make sure that the treaty helps prevent plastic pollution in the first place. If we have a strong plastics treaty, it will bring new hope for generations to come; After decades of this seemingly endless problem, all countries will ultimately make significant progress.
The biggest issue with plastic pollution is that most of the responsibility for the plastic crisis has been placed on the individual consumer, when in reality, such responsibility ought to be in the hands of the industries that caused the issue in the first place.
You can find plastic packaging in nearly every aisle of nearly any store. That’s because almost all global industries heavily rely on plastic. 36% of all plastic produced is used just for packaging, with the majority of single-use plastic ending up in landfills within just six months post-production. (IISD, 2023). Plastics are being produced at alarming rates. Industries have been avoiding taking responsibility for their actions while offered “greenwashing” tactics as an alternative.
Firstly, companies have shifted the responsibility onto consumers by creating a false narrative that the global plastic crisis is largely due to individual actions, such as improper recycling. Many major plastic producers have invested in plastic recycling facilities to “reduce” their plastic footprint. These facilities are not a viable solution to the plastic crisis, and recycling itself isn’t necessarily a viable solution, either. This is due to cost inefficiencies, plus the fact that many disposable plastic products simply cannot be recycled due to how they are produced. (Tangpuori, 2020).
Companies have also turned the plastic crisis into a new way to make a profit. Given the massive public outcry on the plastic issue, some companies have turned to “greenwashing”: when companies make misleading claims about the sustainability of their products to persuade environmentally-conscious consumers to purchase their products. Many consumers have encountered this with some companies using terms such as “eco-friendly” or “sustainable”, without elaborating on what these phrases mean within the context of their company. (Baker, 2024).
An example of this includes major fashion brand H&M, which used terms such as “ecodesign” on labels and in marketing campaigns, without specifically indicating what that means, or providing any proof. These labels have since been removed, largely due to advocacy from the public to hold them accountable. (Surfrider, 2023). Another example is the car manufacturer, Volkswagen, who marketed their vehicles as “environmentally friendly”; however, it was later revealed that they had manipulated emission test results. (Davison, 2024).
These examples show that sustainability labels used by companies can be deceiving. In most cases, the use of these labels is not even regulated. Companies must be more transparent and ensure that when using these labels, they indicate exactly what they mean, and are able to define the actual steps they are taking towards sustainability.
The most important question is, what steps can we take to curb plastic pollution and environmental harm?
The answer encompasses a multi-pronged approach. This conversation must include stakeholders from every sector, including consumers, frontline communities harmed by plastic pollution, local, national, and global regulating bodies, and the plastics industry itself.
Companies must play a significant role in reducing their plastic pollution. They need to stop emphasizing the convenience mentality of single-use products and stop producing them altogether. In the few cases where it’s not possible to halt production entirely, they should seek alternative methods and materials. Plastic packaging should be eradicated completely.
It is essential that companies shift their focus from being primarily profit-driven to instead being more environmentally and ethically conscious, to ensure the future health and sustainability of the planet.
Governments are another key player in the war on plastic pollution. Governing bodies must ensure that the laws of their nation are developed with the protection of the environment as a priority. Emphasis must also be placed on the enforcement of laws and regulations already in place. In addition, the adoption and ratification of a strong Global Plastics Treaty is a major step in the right direction. The treaty could offer top-down solutions aimed at reducing the production of plastic so that less plastic enters the environment, as opposed to bottom-up approaches that only address plastic that has already been produced.
That being said, both top-down and bottom-up solutions are necessary. At an individual level, we should still continue with efforts to reduce our personal plastic consumption and be conscious of our own personal use and impact.
Yes, the plastic crisis is a serious environmental issue. But, as Gus Speth, a US adviser on climate change, once said, “The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy”. It is only once these issues are addressed that we can save our environment and create the safe and healthy future that we all deserve.
For more information on how you can help our world create a strong Global Plastics Treaty this year, please click here!
Citations
Science History Institute. (2023). History and Future of Plastics. SHI Museum & Library. https://www.sciencehistory.org/education/classroom-activities/role-playing-games/case-of-plastics/history-and-future-of-plastics/
IUCN Issues Brief. (2024, May). Plastic Pollution. International Union for Conservation of Nature. https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/plastic-pollution
OECD. (2022, February 22). Plastic pollution is growing relentlessly as waste management and recycling fall short. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2022/02/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.html
International Institute for Sustainable Development. (2023, October 26). Addressing Plastic Packaging Waste in E-commerce Retail. IISD’s SDG Knowledge Hub. https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/addressing-plastic-packaging-waste-in-e-commerce-retail/
Baker, A. (2024, February 15). Companies Are Trying to Offset Their Plastic Waste. Some Experts Are Skeptical. Time. https://time.com/collection/time-co2-futures/6691961/companies-offsetting-plastic-waste/
Surfrider Europe. (2023, July). The five strategies of industries to keep on producing and using even more plastic. Surfrider Foundation. https://www.surfrider.eu/learn/news/the-five-strategies-of-industries-to-keep-on-producing-and-using-even-more-plastic/
Davison, T. (2024, February 8). The 9 Worst Greenwashing Fines Given to Companies. CleanHub. https://blog.cleanhub.com/greenwashing-examples
Tangpuori, A. D., Harding-Rolls, G., Urbanci, N., & Purita Banegas Zallio, X. (2020). Talking Trash – Full Report. https://talking-trash.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TalkingTrash_FullReport.pdf. Changing Markets Foundation.