So, as we’ve all been existing this last week, one theme keeps coming back again and again. The overwhelming amount of plastic waste in this country and globally. Statistics like, 50% of emissions are coming from the top 10% of wealthy individuals globally. Or, the truly shocking news that among everything else, the USPS is about to buy a huge fleet of their classic truck model that we’ve recently learned gets about 8 miles per gallon of gas. This, in the face of all the efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Not a great choice when there are definitely other options available. When a public service doesn’t seem to be making an effort to change, it can be really disheartening as it seems to suggest that our government is not backing up their words with actions. Can you imagine the impact it would have in the other direction if all USPS trucks were transitioned to electric? Additionally, bathtub analogies about turning off the plastic tap abound. The idea is so straightforward that a very small child could understand the premise. If you haven’t seen one of these illustrations (check out the video below), basically, in order to stop an overflowing bathtub from dousing your space, you’d first turn off the tap. While interested and innovative, a lot of the suggested climate change fixes are more like attempting to bail water out of the flooding tub without turning off the tap. Impossible, impractical, irrational. Everything a successful plan should not be. We need to stop plastic waste at the source. The number of things that must be plastic is much shorter than the list of things that can be plastic or are cheaper when plastic.
That’s the bottom-line, though, isn’t it? Plastic is cheap. You go to the store and you want a soda. You could buy a 20oz for, say, $1.50 or you could buy a 12oz glass bottle for $2.99. Which are most people going to buy? We’ve incentivized buying the plastic option to the point that it's all vulnerable communities can consistently afford. So, where is the root of the issue? Though large corporations bear a lot of the weight when it comes to making biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives, they are motivated mainly through our consumerism. Companies aren’t going to produce a product for which there is no demand. But I recycle, you might say. Well, if you live in the US, you should know that the amount of plastic actually recycled has dropped below 6%. We aren’t saying don’t try but a lot of the stuff you think is being recycled may still be ending up in the landfill. So, if you can, when you can, buy a reusable alternative. Support companies that are making big moves towards reusable products. Most of all, we need to get on the same page as a country and vote to support climate change savvy legislation. Customer demand is gradually making a change but with the right regulations we can make sweeping changes to the landscape of commercial production. We are already finding microplastics in our lungs and in our blood. What more will it take for us to work together to pull the plug on plastic waste? We have the innovations. Use them.
Resources:
Companies Moving Towards Zero Plastic