Global community confronts a $1.5 trillion plastics predicament, with health concerns spanning from birth to old age according to a Lancet review's warning.
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In a world where plastic has become an indispensable part of daily life, a growing concern surrounds the environmental and health implications of its extensive use. More than 98% of plastics originate from fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil, and their production and disposal pose significant risks to both human health and the environment.
The sources of plastic pollution can be traced throughout its entire lifecycle.
The Manufacturing Phase
The extraction and processing of fossil fuel feedstocks, the raw materials for plastics, result in substantial environmental degradation and the release of toxic chemicals. Energy-intensive plastic production processes like steam cracking are responsible for about 90% of plastics’ lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions during production include particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and hazardous chemicals, threatening worker health and contributing to climate change.
The Usage Phase
Single-use plastic products, such as bottles, caps, shopping bags, drinking cups, and straws, are the primary culprits of pollution during the usage phase. These items often become litter, contributing heavily to land and marine pollution. The degradation of these plastics gives rise to microplastics, posing further risks to both human health and the environment. Littering, industrial activity, construction, and agriculture are the main causes of plastic pollution on land, which is transported by urban and stormwater runoff to rivers and oceans.
The Disposal Phase
Improper waste management practices, such as open burning of plastic waste, landfill disposal, and incineration, further spread toxic substances and microplastics. Open burning of plastic waste, especially common in low- and middle-income countries, releases substantial air pollutants and toxic chemicals. Landfill disposal contaminates soil and water through chemical leakage, while incineration emits toxic chemicals and releases micro- and nano-plastics into the air. Around 57% of plastic waste is burned openly, posing serious air pollution risks and health hazards such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Plastic chemicals, over 4200 of concern, pose serious health risks through exposure at all phases, including via microplastics ingested or inhaled. Plastic pollution contributes to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation both locally and globally. Plastic production accounts for around 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from fossil feedstocks heavily used in manufacturing.
The World faces a $1.5 trillion plastics crisis with health-related harms per year. The market is dominated by single-use plastics, which include more than 16,000 compounds, including harmful additives. A strong international plastics treaty with provisions to limit manufacturing, improve openness regarding plastic chemicals, and safeguard vulnerable groups is needed to address this pressing issue. Recycling is not a viable solution to the plastics challenge, as globally less than 10% of plastic trash is recycled. A shift towards sustainable alternatives and a reduction in plastic consumption is essential to mitigate the plastics crisis and protect both human health and the environment.
[1] World Economic Forum. (2020). Plastic Waste: A Crisis We Can’t Afford to Ignore. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/plastic-waste-crisis-we-cant-afford-to-ignore/
[2] United Nations Environment Programme. (2019). Single-use Plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability. Retrieved from https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26376/Single-use_plastics_roadmap_for_sustainability_web.pdf
[3] European Commission. (2021). The European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/european-strategy-plastics-circular-economy_en
[4] National Geographic. (2018). The Plastic Waste Crisis in Numbers. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/06/plastic-produced-recycled-waste-ocean-pollution-statistics/
[5] The Guardian. (2020). Plastic pollution: the hidden health crisis. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/02/plastic-pollution-the-hidden-health-crisis
- NGOs worldwide are advocating for stricter regulations on plastic manufacturing to minimize environmental and health impacts.
- Reporting on the events surrounding the movement against plastic pollution is crucial for raising awareness and influencing policy decisions.
- Courses on environmental science and sustainability are being offered to educate people about the dangers of plastic usage and the importance of eco-friendly alternatives.
- ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles are being adopted by businesses to address their environmental footprint, including reducing plastic waste.
- Research in green science is focused on developing sustainable materials that can replace plastics, addressing the issue at its source.
- Medical conditions related to plastic pollution, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases caused by air pollution, are becoming more prominent issues in health-and-wellness discussions.
- Health-conscious individuals are turning to fitness-and-exercise routines and skin-care products that prioritize environmentally friendly ingredients.
- Addressing climate change requires reducing plastic consumption, as plastic production accounts for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution on the environment is growing, with environmental-science being taught in schools and covered extensively in news media.
- Personal-finance management may need to incorporate factors such as the cost of treating health issues related to plastic pollution, adding another dimension to the plastics crisis debate.
- The technology sector is working on designing biodegradable plastic alternatives and improving waste management systems to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment.
- The travel industry is being encouraged to reduce single-use plastics in their operations, with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
- Sports, including sports-betting and weather forecasting, may indirectly contribute to plastic pollution through their operations and sponsorships, making them potential areas for future interventions.
