Scientists have discovered microplastics in human blood, placentas, and even the air we breathe. Every minute, a garbage truck’s worth of plastic suffocates the ocean. Wondering why you didn't hear about this?
Well, that's because everyone is lying to you. The recycling myth is the "hot topic" of the decade, and somehow, it's reality is a shocking, cold case.
Did you know that only 9% of plastic waste has ever been recycled globally? Or that most plastic is down cycled into lower-quality products that eventually become waste? This is the harsh reality that no one seems to be talking about. Recycling isn't a magical solution to stop the plastic issue, it's a costly scheme to make people think they're putting good into the world when in reality, it's barely making a dent in the plastic crisis.
Not only is the benefit of recycling extremely limited, its cost and efforts are extremely substantial and unprofitable. Recycling is energy-extensive and often less-cost effective than producing new plastic, significantly negating its environmental benefits. Including that, developed countries like the USA, the UK and Canada, ship great amounts of plastic waste abroad, where it's often burned or dumped.
Heaps of waste from the US, Germany and Japan end up in Vietnam, where much of the plastic ends up in rivers and oceans, invalidating the whole purpose. Recycling is not a solution; it's a wobbly, insecure bandaid.
The world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic yearly, enough trash to reach the moon and back almost 50 times! If you didn't know, plastic is made from oil and gas, so as the fossil fuel demands decline (due to renewable energy growth), companies rely on plastics to maintain profits, meaning they're expanding their plastic output as demand for petroleum product steadily declines.
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To make matters worse, the plastics industry is set to grow by 40% by 2050, according to a report from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). This expansion will contribute to an increase in plastic waste, as the majority of plastic produced is single-use. Corporations like ExxonMobil, Shell, and Chevron are heavily invested in plastics, often because plastic products are more profitable than other oil products.
Despite the mounting evidence of the environmental toll, many of these companies promote recycling schemes that are often misleading. Through greenwashing, companies promote recycling while continuing to produce non-recyclable plastics, actively manipulating their consumers that they are "environmental friendly". Don't give in to these lies, and instead, invest in ordinary sustainable alternatives, like biodegradeables and plant-based materials.
Hold on, though. Companies are not all too blame for our worrying plastic problem. We, as consumers, make up a large sum of the issue.
For instance, demand for plastic products (from food packaging to clothing) drives much of the production. How many times have you ordered from those online clothing stores and received an unorthodox amount of plastic for the packaging? How many times have you continued to purchase from that exact store? You have a right and responsibility to do your research on recycling, and educate yourself on its limitations and other ways to help.
Governments worldwide are beginning to take action, implementing policies to curb plastic waste at the source. Some have introduced plastic bans and taxes to limit production and consumption, fir example, the European Union has banned certain single-use plastics like straws and cutlery, while Canada has prohibited plastic checkout bags and food containers. Countries like Kenya have gone even further, enforcing some of the strictest plastic bag bans with heavy fines for violators.
But policies alone won’t solve the crisis. Innovation is also key. Scientists are developing solutions like plastic-eating bacteria and fungi that can break down plastic naturally.
Chemical recycling, a process that breaks plastic down to its molecular level for reuse, is another potential solution, though it remains costly and energy-intensive. Biodegradable alternatives, like bioplastics made from corn or algae, offer another route, but these too come with challenges, as many require industrial composting and don’t always degrade as promised.
At the end of the day, no single solution will fix the plastic crisis. Real change requires action from governments, corporations, and consumers alike. Governments must enforce stricter regulations on plastic production and disposal.
Corporations must be held accountable for their role in the crisis, prioritizing sustainable alternatives over profit-driven expansion. And we, as consumers, must rethink our choices: reducing our plastic use, demanding better policies, and refusing to fall for corporate greenwashing. It's our responsibility.
Because if we don’t act now, plastic won’t just be in our oceans. It’ll be in our bodies, our food, and our future.
