The text discusses the history and impact of plastic, a material that was initially hailed as a revolutionary invention due to its durability, lightweight, and ability to be molded into almost any shape. It was used in a wide range of products, from everyday items like coffee cups and plastic bags to more complex structures like houses, cars, and computers. However, plastic has become a significant environmental problem, with 40% of plastics used for packaging in the U.S alone. Since its invention, we have produced about 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic, with 335 million tons in 2016 alone.
The plastic waste issue is further complicated by the fact that 79% of plastic is still present in the environment. It ends up in the ocean, where it contributes to the death of marine life due to ingestion or entanglement. Microplastics, smaller pieces of plastic, are particularly harmful as they can be ingested by a wide range of marine life and can travel up the food chain, potentially affecting human health.
The text also mentions that while banning plastics might seem like a simple solution, it's not that straightforward. Some substitutes for plastic have a higher environmental impact, and plastic helps solve problems that we don't have very good answers for at the moment, such as preventing food from spoiling and avoiding unnecessary waste.
The text ends with a call to action, urging individuals to refuse disposable plastics, convince friends and family to do the same, and pressure companies and politicians to take necessary steps to address the plastic pollution issue.
1. Plastic is a material made from polymers, long repeating chains of molecule groups.
2. Plastic was invented roughly 100 years ago and has completely changed our world.
3. Plastic is lightweight, durable, and can be molded into almost any shape.
4. Plastic can be easily mass-produced and its raw materials are available in vast amounts and incredibly cheaply.
5. Almost everything today is at least partly made from plastic.
6. Plastic has long ceased to be a revolutionary material and has become trash.
7. Plastic takes between 500 and 1000 years to break down.
8. 40% of plastics are used for packaging in the U.S.
9. Packaging makes up one third of all the waste that is generated annually.
10. Since its invention, we have produced about 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic.
11. 335 million tons of plastic were produced in 2016 alone.
12. More than 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic have become waste since 1907.
13. 9% of plastic waste was recycled, 12% was burnt, and 79% is still sticking around.
14. Around 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year.
15. Microplastics are pieces smaller than five millimeters and are even more easily swallowed by all kinds of marine life.
16. Microplastics have been found in honey, sea salt, beer, tap water, and household dust.
17. 8 out of 10 babies and nearly all adults have measurable amounts of phthalates, a common plastic additive, in their bodies.
18. 93% of people have BPA in their urine.
19. Plastic pollution is a complicated problem and we need a lot more research before panic is justified.
20. We have lost control over plastic to a certain extent.
21. Plastic also helps solve problems that we don't have very good answers for at the moment.
22. One-third of all food that's produced is never eaten and ends up rotting away on landfills where it produces methane.
23. The best way of preventing food from spoiling and avoiding unnecessary waste is still plastic packaging.
24. 90% of all plastic waste entering the ocean comes from just 10 rivers in Asia and Africa.
25. Your individual daily actions still have a huge impact.