A new massive study finds that production of plastic and the hard-to-break down synthetic waste is spiralling beyond control. The study says that since the 1950s more than 9 billion tons of plastic has been made. That’s enough to cover a country the size of Argentina!
A new study called 'Production, Use and Fate of all Plastics Ever Made' published in the international journal, Science Advances, has startled the world with its latest findings. According to the study, the plastic made since the 1950s, all 9.1 billion tons of it, is very much around. The study hinges on the fact that plastic doesn’t break down like other man-made material. Which means three-quarters of the stuff (almost 79%) ends up as waste in landfills, littered on land and floating in oceans, lakes and rivers. Roland Geyer, an industrial ecologist at the University of California who is also the lead author of the study said, “At the current rate, we are really heading towards a plastic planet.’’ Before you read further take time to ponder on the numbers in the column on the left that specify just how much plastic there is in the world.
The study in numbers
1 The study calculated that of the 9.1 billion tons of plastic made, nearly 7 billion tons are no longer used.
2 Only 9 per cent got recycled and another 12 per cent was incinerated, leaving 5.5 billion tons of plastic waste on land and in water.
3 Using the plastic industry’s own data, researchers found that the amount of plastic made and thrown out is accelerating.
4 In 2015, the world created 448 million tons of plastic (more than twice as much made in 1998.)
5 About 35 per cent of the plastic is for packaging.
How we got here
The plastic boom started after World War II, and, before long, plastic started being used everywhere... from plastic bottles to consumer goods (like cellphones and refrigerators) to construction material to cars and clothing (as polyester).
Ironically the world needs plastic
Even though the plastic industry is working to increase recycling and reduce waste, the fact is, plastic has a purpose and are cost efficient. Said Steve Russell, vice-president American Chemistry Council, “If we didn’t have them, the impact on the environment would be worse. Using alternatives to plastics for packaging and consumer goods such as glass, paper or aluminium requires more energy.” ap
How to use less plastic
It’s easy to forget that the plastic bag you threw oh-so-responsibly into the trash today morning will exist in the world for the next century or so. Worse still is the fact that there will be a time when humanity will run out of room to put away all that ‘stuff’. But you can reduce your own impact by cutting down on your plastic consumption. Here’s how:
1. Use Reusable Shopping Bags
2. Invest in Reusable Containers
3. Buy Secondhand
4. Push for a Plastic Tax/Ban
Q: What are you doing to minimise your use of plastic?