Plastics – A Blessing or a Curse

Amrit Khosla, Environment Committee

Plastics is a generic name for materials usually made from fossil fuels. At the start of the 20th century, humans discovered how to make synthetic polymers using fossil fuels. World War Two made it necessary to preserve scarce natural resources, and new plastics quickly replaced materials such as plant cellulose, wood, ivory, metal, glass, and metal. Plastics were strong, lightweight, flexible and relatively inexpensive. Their use in textiles offered convenience, longer life and low cost, and quickly replaced natural materials like cotton, silk and wool.

These days, plastics are used in almost all the things in our daily lives: cars, toys, furniture, plumbing, pipes, garments and many household, industrial and medical products. Micro-bead plastics have also been used in facial scrubs, toothpaste, laundry detergents, and scrubbing cleaners.

Plastic Curse

In the last few decades, scientists began raising the alarm about the indestructible nature of plastic waste. Their long life that was seen as a blessing, now seems a curse. Images of floating islands of plastics in the sea, shorelines littered with plastic bags and bottles, and unmanageable waste being shipped thousands of kilometres away have become a common sight. 

The reputation of plastics suffered further with a growing concern about their effect on animals, plants, and human health. 

Creatures in the sea mistake floating plastics for food. There have been instances of their choking on plastics. Globs of plastics have been found in the sea mammals’ stomachs.

Communities around plastic manufacturing plants have been concerned about their exposure to high levels of air and water pollution. The release of micro-fibres from synthetic textiles and leaching of harmful chemicals from plastic food containers exposes us to hazards on a daily basis. Degradation of plastics in micro and nano form contaminate our drinking water. Since they cannot easily be filtered through the water treatment system, we end up ingesting them when we drink tap water, but bottled water also has micro-plastics. Many scientific studies have found plastics in all human tissues, even placenta. Studies link plastics to endocrine disruption and metabolic diseases.

Finding Solutions to Manage Plastic Waste

Scientists have been studying sustainable solutions to manage plastic waste. Most of their research is focused on removing microplastics from our water systems. Unfortunately, micro- and nano-plastic particles cannot be filtered through existing water management systems. The University of British Columbia has developed a filter using sawdust and plant tannins that can filter not just microplastics but antibiotics and other chemicals from the water. The University of Waterloo has also developed a filter using activated carbon. Other research is focused on the concept of circularity, to make plastics more reusable and recyclable so the need for virgin plastics is reduced.

It will take time to scale these solutions so they can be applied widely. Along with waste management, we need to keep developing sustainable alternatives to synthetic plastics.

Alternative to Plastics 

To address the plastic crisis, scientists and manufacturers have been developing sustainable alternatives to plastics that match their strength and flexibility but are safer for all life on earth. 

There is ongoing research to use other natural materials such as starches, plant cellulose and milk proteins. Lignin, a wood product, as well as silicone are other materials currently under development as plastic substitutes.

Right now, the objects made from the above sustainable solutions are not in widespread use because of the cost and availability. As concerns about plastic pollution grow, the growing demand for alternatives will force industry to increase the production of sustainable alternatives to plastics. 

What Governments are Doing 

Many European countries and Canada have banned, or set the timelines for banning, the intentional addition of micro-plastic beads in cosmetics, toiletries and cleaning products. Plastic shopping bags have been banned in most countries. There are increasing efforts to ban the use of single use plastics such as plastic straws, cutlery, stir sticks, etc. Although disposable coffee cups and dishes have not been banned, the government has been urging and offering incentives to industry to manufacture and use sustainable alternatives.

Efforts are underway to develop international treaties to reduce plastic production. At the 2024 treaty talks, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee failed to agree on limiting or phasing out plastic production despite majority support, because oil producing countries want to focus on plastic recycling and circularity instead of caps on production.

The Business Coalition for a Global Plastic Treaty, with over 275 members, supports finalizing the treaty based on majority support instead of waiting for universal agreement by all countries. They argue that businesses need to mobilize investment and scale solutions for sustainable alternatives to plastic. Based on the experience with endless negotiations at Climate COPS, this seems like a good idea.

What can Individuals do?

Global treaties and alternatives to plastics can take many years, but in the meantime we as individuals can do many things to protect our health and that of the ecosystem.

Refuse single use items such as shopping bags, coffee cups, disposable dishes, and bulk bags. Instead, carry your own cloth bags, water bottle, coffee cups and dishes. Many stores allow you to take your own containers for bulk items. For food and other storage, use glass, metal, or silicone container.

Natural sponges, luffas, and wood brushes can replace your plastic sponge and scrubber. Use wooden cutting boards instead of plastic and replace children’s plastic utensils and dishes with bamboo or metal ones.

Synthetic rugs, bedding, and clothing are a big source of microplastic, which affects not only our health, but our ecosystem by polluting our air and waters. Organic cotton, wool, bamboo, and hemp are good alternatives.

Locally, you can get involved in shoreline cleanups to prevent plastic debris from entering our waters.

Finally, you can take political action. Send letters, sign petitions, and join rallies. Urge our governments to cap plastic production, incentivize industry to use alternatives for packaging and manufacturing, and support universities with research funding for sustainable solutions.