How Should We Think about Plastic Pollution?

From an essay I wrote for Sofia's English Composition II course.

Table of contents

Introduction

Today, plastic products are used in various fields because they are unbreakable, lightweight, and can be mass-produced. Plastics are now an integral part of our daily lives, with an estimated production of 83 million metric tons since the 1950s, and the annual production in 2050 is expected to be 1100 tons (Lear et al., 2021). On the other hand, post-use management has not kept pace with the dramatic increase in production, spreading environmental pollution. For example, the discovery of 40 kg of plastic waste in the stomach of a deceased Cuvier's beaked whale in the Philippines and 100 kilograms of waste in the body of a young sperm whale in Scotland attracted media attention (Lear et al., 2021). Then we know that from which plastics are derived, fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases during their life cycle stages from extraction to End of Life (Ford et al., 2022). However, removing plastic waste spilled into the environment is difficult because much of the plastic is not biologically degradable. So, does it not make sense for individual consumers to tackle the plastic waste problem? Since plastic waste threatens living organisms and harms climate change, consumer actions such as reuse, recycling, and the active use of biomass plastics are needed. Consumers can reduce plastics in the environment by actively reusing and recycling them or incorporating alternatives, such as biomass plastics, which have a low environmental impact. In addition, knowing the negative impact and severity of the problem can motivate consumers to change their behavior. Then, this paper will discuss the negative impacts of plastic waste on organisms and the climate and propose a strategy for consumers to contribute.

Impacts on Marine Life

Plastics spilled into the ocean were estimated at 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tons in 2010 (Crutchett et al., 2020). Recent modeling indicates that by 2040, 710 million tons of plastic waste will be in the environment as production increases, and it is estimated that there will be a spill (Lear et al., 2021). Then, marine organisms entangled in spilled fishing nets lose their lives, or harmful additives damage them when microplastics are accidentally ingested. Crutchett (2020) and colleagues studied the plastic intake of sardines caught for commerce in a sparsely populated coastal area in Western Australia. They recovered plastic polypropylene, polyethylene, or nylon fragments from sardines' bodies. From this study, since sardines are found in many coastal areas internationally, even sardines in less populated coastal areas ingesting plastic trash highlight the problem's universal nature. Another study has shown that organisms adversely affect living organisms when accidentally ingesting microplastics. Horn (2019) and colleagues studied the effects of exposed Pacific mole crabs on polypropylene rope fibers, finding increased mortality of pregnant adult females, reduced reproductive success, and variability in embryo development rates compared to crabs in suitable environments. Thus, plastic spilled into the ocean causes direct damage to living organisms and undermines their lives as harmful additives are taken into their bodies. Plastic pathways into the ocean include improper disposal, treated wastewater discharge, and marine activities such as fishing. Other small pieces of plastic are also released into the ocean from the friction of fibers in tires, shoes, and clothing. In other words, even using plastic products unknowingly releases microplastics into the environment. Consumers need to be aware of the negative impact on marine life and choose not to excessive use plastic products.

Impacts on Climate Change

The prospects for expanding plastic production are stated as "emit over 56 billion Mt of carbon-dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) in GHGs between 2015 and 2050, which is 10–13% of the entire remaining carbon budget" (Ford et al., 2022, p. 2). The raw material of plastic is petroleum, a fossil fuel that contains carbon, and it produces greenhouse gases such as methane in the process of degradation and incineration (Rosenboom, 2022). In other words, plastic continues to emit greenhouse gases throughout its life cycle, contributing to global warming and, as a result, contributing to climate change. For example, plastic waste is incinerated in India. It releases toxic gases such as dioxins, furans, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls, polluting the atmosphere and impacting climate change (Verma et al., 2016). In addition, as climate change progresses, a vicious cycle is created. Plastic waste in the natural environment is further spread by abnormal weather and flooding and finally flows into the oceans. Moreover, Arctic Sea ice contains 38 to 234 microplastic particles per cubic meter, and their melting due to global warming is said to cause them to spill into the marine environment (Ford et al., 2022). Although plastic pollution and climate change are often considered two different environmental problems, they are related, and their interaction can further harm the ecosystem. We should know that the root cause of both problems is the overconsumption of finite resources. Excessive consumption of single-use plastics will contribute to global warming and ocean pollution. Therefore, consumers should carefully consider purchasing plastic products.

Bioplastics and Biodegradable Plastics

Bioplastics and biodegradable plastics are alternative products that consumers can choose. These are environmentally friendly materials to conventional plastics with a high environmental impact. Bioplastics are derived from renewable biobased resources such as corn or sugarcane starch, whereas conventional plastics are made from fossil fuels (Ford et al., 2022). Currently, 100% of bioplastics of biological origin are produced on about 2 million tons per year (Rosenboom et al., 2022) and are expected to contribute to the shift away from petroleum resources. One thing to keep in mind is that bioplastics also have concerns about the leaching of monomers and oligomers (Rosenboom et al., 2022), so the same care should be taken when disposing of them as with conventional plastics. Other biodegradable plastics refer to plastics that are degraded by microorganisms and are composted after compost use (Haider et al., 2018). They are said to have a low environmental impact because they turn into water and carbon dioxide after degradation. It is now produced by the ton, and its price has dropped to a few dollars per kilo in the last 20 years, at a price level comparable to polystyrene (Rosenboom et al., 2022). In addition, biodegradable plastics can reduce environmental persistence problems by biodegrading (Ford et al., 2022). However, it is essential to note that the "biodegradable" label does not mean that littering is acceptable. Those two alternative plastics are now commonly distributed and more readily available. Therefore, consumers should actively incorporate these materials as alternatives to single-use plastic products. On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, both materials have their characteristics and precautions, so it is not enough to choose bioplastics or biodegradable plastics; one must understand them correctly and be responsible until disposal. By incorporating them into our daily lives, we can help reduce the number of microplastics we unintentionally emit.

Reuse and Recycling

Again, plastics have become an indispensable tool in our daily lives today, including in medicine, and their production is expected to increase significantly in the future. In addition, plastic waste will continue to increase and will not stop hurting the environment. The fact that plastics that have leaked into the environment are challenging to break down and remove makes it all the more urgent to reuse and recycle them during product development and consumption. For consumers to consciously act in an environmentally responsible manner, they must be aware of the problem of plastic waste threatening marine life and harming climate change. Raising awareness of the plastic waste problem is essential in changing behavior toward plastic consumption (Napper et al., 2020). Heidbreder (2020) and colleagues state that what matters in consumer policy is what large groups of consumers do. They also note that "Problem awareness activates a sense of obligation to protect, affirm, and re-establish the violated or threatened standard" (Heidbreder et al., 2020, p. 4). To achieve environmental goals, people can change their behavior in private spheres, such as consumption. For example, one strategy that consumers can contribute is avoiding purchasing unnecessary disposable plastic products instead of selecting and buying reusable and recyclable products. Specifically, using reusable water bottles instead of bottled beverages or beeswax wraps instead of plastic storage containers can reduce single-use plastic waste. Also, we contribute to our reuse by purchasing products made from discarded plastics. Consumers can think about the plastic waste problem, be aware of the issue, and work to solve the problem through actions that individuals can take.

Difficulties in Eliminating Plastic Pollution

This paper has discussed awareness of the problem that consumers should have and strategies that individuals can engage in. However, there are difficulties in eliminating plastic pollution. First, plastic waste already in the environment is challenging to recover and takes enormous time to break down naturally. The time it takes for a plastic product to decompose depends mainly on its polymer and mass and has been estimated at 58 years for plastic bottles and 1,200 years for plastic piping (Ford et al., 2022). Thus, reducing plastic waste to zero is unrealistic. Second, changing consumer attitudes has proven to be no easy task. Heidbreder and colleagues (2020) used the 'Plastic Free July' campaign, which encourages people to reduce single-use plastics during July, to survey participants' attitudes toward plastic consumption. Overall, their findings show that participants are highly aware of plastic pollution. Still, most cite the lack of plastic-free alternatives available, time wastage, cost, and hygiene as barriers (Heidbreder et al., 2020). In other words, it is also essential for manufacturers and retailers to provide suitable alternatives to capitalize on consumers' high awareness of the issue effectively. Sellers may also need to remove the psychological barriers they perceive, such as campaigns to promote plastic-free products to get consumers to change their habits. In the public domain, policies are also needed to remove structural barriers to consumers changing to sustainable lifestyles. (Heidbreder et al., 2020). For example, consumers can easily make informed choices by showing eco-labels on products. Consumers can also be involved in improvement activities by supporting such policies. In order to promote changes in consumer behavior, this issue must be approached from multiple directions, including producers and politics.

Conclusion

Plastic products are an indispensable material in our daily lives due to their convenience. However, their ability to be produced in large quantities and at low cost has resulted in an ever-increasing amount of waste. Today, magazines and Internet articles feature pictures of sea turtles with straws stuck up their noses and whales with large amounts of plastic waste in their stomachs. The facts are increasingly visible, demonstrating their omnipresence and seriousness. In addition to threatening the lives of living creatures, the greenhouse gases emitted by plastic waste hurt climate change, and we now know that these two environmental problems are interrelated. Since plastic waste threatens living organisms and harms climate change, it is necessary to change consumer attitudes toward reuse, recycling, and active use of biomass plastics. Furthermore, consumer awareness is urgently needed, as it is clear that once plastic is released into the environment, it is difficult to decompose and cannot be eliminated entirely. Therefore, we should be aware of the seriousness of the facts about this issue and become aware of the problem, which will lead them to take environmentally friendly actions. Specifically, consumers can curb the excessive consumption of finite resources by properly knowing the characteristics of bioplastics and biodegradable plastics and incorporating them appropriately into their daily lives. In addition, by avoiding plastic products, we can stop the flow of microplastics into the ocean, in which we are unknowingly involved. Then, by being conscious of recycling and reuse, we can reduce the greenhouse gases produced during incineration and engage in climate change initiatives. As plastic waste is increasing today, each consumer must change their behavior. We live with the products we consume and dispose of. Therefore, we have a responsibility to keep thinking about this environmental issue, and individuals must change their awareness and work to solve the problem. For sustainable living, individual consumers need to change their awareness as soon as possible.

References

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