THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC

In a few decades our oceans could contain more plastic than fish. And we are warned that plastic is now finding its way into our food

FROM humble beginnings in Birmingham, England, in 1856, plastic has become a mainstay of modern life. Waterproof, inexpensive, easy to manufacture and shape, plastic has replaced wood, stone, ceramic and many other traditional natural materials. It is now used in everything from pens and plumbing supplies to spaceships.

Indeed, plastic is everywhere — from single-use cutlery, straws and water bottles to components in our electronics, cars and other everyday products.

The fact that plastic does not biodegrade is both a great quality, and a great cause for concern.

Many types of plastic ultimately end up in our oceans — an estimated 12 million tonnes every year. That’s the equivalent of a full rubbish truck every minute, according to Greenpeace. Plastic in the oceans originates from many sources — landfills, litterbugs, plastic microbeads in cosmetic products, and countless others.

By some accounts, the oceans now contain an estimated 300 million tonnes of plastic, much of it pulverised to an invisible scale. In a few decades our oceans could contain more plastic than fish. And we are warned that plastic is now finding its way into our food.

Derived from fossil fuels, plastic and its exponential growth is a threat in many ways, from poisoning and injuring marine life to disrupting human hormones and causing early puberty. Indeed, new scientific data associate cancer with polystyrene food containers.

“Plastic pollution is now an ever-present challenge,” says Valeria Merino, vice-president of Global Earth Day at Earth Day Network (EDN).

“We have all contributed to this problem — mostly unknowingly — and we must work to reduce and ultimately End Plastic Pollution.”

Indeed, ending plastic pollution was the theme of this year’s Earth Day.

According to EDN:

• About 9.1 billion tonnes of virgin (non-recycled) plastic has been produced to date

• We have generated 6.9 billion tonnes of plastic waste

• Only nine per cent has been recycled, and

• Plastic production is predicted to triple in the next 25 years

EDN has built a multi-year campaign to end plastic pollution with multiple goals, which include an end to the production of single-use plastic products, promoting alternative materials, 100 per