single use plastics are the worst
what are single use plastics?
single use plastics are any plastic product that is designed to be used once or is disposed of after one use. think: plastic water bottles, plastic wrapping or packaging, coffee cups and lids, take out containers, plastic cutlery, etc. etc.
plastic is ABUNDANT in our society and it has made many things easy, especially for a society that is constantly on the go. coffee to go! food to go! drinks to go! plastic makes it possible.
the problem is there is WAY, WAY too much plastic. in a consumer driven, convenience loving society, plastic has thrived - upwards of 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year(1).
but plastic is recyclable!
yes, in theory plastic is recyclable. however many cities and towns only have facilities to recycle certain types of plastic (#1 and #2 are accepted by most recycling facilities, #7 is almost always not accepted - check for your local regulations!).
of all the plastic produced only 9% gets recycled each year, meaning a whopping 90% of plastic is discarded, either ending up in a landfill, being burned, or making its way to the ocean.
what is the environmental impact?
if you’re thinking, wow 90% of 300+ million tons is a lot! you’d be correct and it is harming our environment in multiple ways.
there is an overwhelming amount of plastics in the ocean, with estimates that by 2050, there will be more plastic that marine life in the ocean (by mass). this sheer volume of plastic in the ocean is a threat to marine life. plastic is estimated to be ingested by up to 90% of the seabirds (2) and over half of sea turtle populations (3). ingestion of plastics causes malnutrition, blocks digestive tracts, and/or leads to eventual poisoning of the animal. additionally, floating plastics can carry invasive species or entangle wildlife (4).
bottom line: plastics are extremely harmful to nature.
and because we are connected to and dependent upon nature….
plastic are harmful to humans as well.
human health can be impacted by plastics through the air we breath, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the products we use.
plastics can leach out harmful substances, such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, that are linked to cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological impacts (5). some of these chemicals include: bispenol A, flame retardants, phthalates, dioxins, and toxic metals like lead. these chemicals are found in everyday products, such as children’s toy, cookware, packaging, and cosmetics.
plastic that slowly breakdown in the ocean into microplastics or nanoplastics (teeny tiny plastic bits) accumulates in the food chain and makes its way into the seafood that we eat. it is estimated the average person consumes a credit cards worth of plastic every week (or 5 grams).
the creation of plastic itself is also harmful to human health. fossil fuels (oil, natural gas) are the primary feedstock for plastic. fracking to extract natural gas releases toxins into the air and can contaminate drinking water. there are over 170 chemicals used in fracking that are known to cause human health impacts, including cancer, reproductive impairment, neurotoxicity, and impaired immune systems. additionally, fracking can also leak methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming.
once extracted, transforming fossil fuels into plastic releases even more toxic and carcinogenic substances, again contributing to negative human health impacts such a low birth weight, cancer, reproductive and development impacts, and impairments to the nervous system. there are also social equity implications as these facilities and refineries are typically located near communities of color (6).
so what can you do?
urge your lawmakers to pass legislation regulating single use plastics. we’ve already seen steps taken to reduce plastic pollution, such as bans on straws and plastic bags. more recently, states, such as Maine and Oregon, have signed '“extended producer responsibility” legislation that makes manufacturers responsible for the recycling and disposal of the packaging they make. California’s new recycling law, signed in June 2022, requires all packaging to be be recyclable or compostable and cuts plastic packaging by 25% by 2032. the law also shifts the burden to plastic producers, requiring them to pay fees for recycling programs by weight and ease of recyclability.
support brands who are reducing or eliminating their plastic use. as awareness of the dangers of plastic to human health and the environment grow, more brands are introducing products and packaging that are plastic free.
a few examples: Elate, Kjaer Weis and Fig 1 are beauty brands that use refillable packaging, Seed is a pre/probiotic that ships an initial glass jar then refills in a paper package, and BOXED is water in 100% recycled and recyclable paper. if your favorite brand is still using lots of plastic - speak up! email/call/write/tweet to them and ask them to switch to more sustainable packaging.
reduce your own plastic use. bring your reusable mug to the coffee shop, take your reusable water bottle with you literally everywhere, visit your local package free or refill shop, and stash reusable bags in your car or hang them by your front door so they’re easy to remember.
1: https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution#how-much-plastic-does-the-world-produce
2: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1502108112
3: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.13078
4: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11270-014-2184-6
5: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201215131242.htm
6: https://www.ciel.org/plasticandhealth/
