Choose again plastic users and manufacturers

Fast Company published a piece on our plastic recently. What caught my attention in this post was its novel approach to focus on a full life cycle rather than just after the consumer ‘threw it away’. Before they approach problem details, they set up why this discussion is important now.

An international agreement to end plastic pollution is due to be sealed this year in Busan, South Korea. At the penultimate round of negotiations, held in Ottawa, Canada, Rwanda and Peru proposed a target to cut the weight of primary plastics produced worldwide by 40% by 2040, compared with 2025.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91118371/plastic-pollution-un-treaty-production-cap-big-oil

International focus could be on the problem, but as the UN’s success rate shows this will be a tough slog … one that I don’t have too much confidence in. However, Fast Company works for a solution regardless. Even asking, what would it take?

Reducing plastic production would require marked shifts in our lives for which there is little precedent. It could involve massive changes in how we behave as consumers, how products are designed and delivered to us—and so on.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91118371/plastic-pollution-un-treaty-production-cap-big-oil

The post’s conclusion left me shrugging my shoulders. Another great depiction of a problem (a train crash we are watching in slow motion all over the planet), and even some ideas, but then frustration when consumer behavior and profit motivations will have to change. Neither of which humans just can’t seem to get behind and do something – we’d rather do a slow-motion pollution self-extinction.

By contrast, the three models offer only generic insight into what would be necessary to scale down plastic production. Replacing plastic with paper and card would not fundamentally improve matters if this packaging still ended up as waste being burned in the open.

There are other options, though. It could be possible to massively simplify the types of polymers used in packaging so that just a few are in circulation. This would make recycling more effective, as one of the present complications is the huge variation in materials that leads to cross-contamination. Likewise, countries could massively expand systems for reusing and refilling containers in shops.

No matter the degree, pathway and pace of plastic production cuts, a fundamental change in our relationship with plastic is necessary. As a target, 2040 seems impossibly close for a viable pathway to significantly lower production, but that should not stop us entertaining such a future. It should alert us to the scientific advances and innovation necessary to make it more plausible.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91118371/plastic-pollution-un-treaty-production-cap-big-oil

For me, I am working at removing all single-use plastic containers, buying only those products shipped in compostable packaging, and trying to avoid all plastic products where options exist (even if higher cost). The alternative of doing nothing is leaving our children and grandchildren messes that nobody will want (or be able) to clean up.