Since the introduction of the first synthetic plastic by Leo Baekeland in 1907, its application has broadened to be an everyday encounter. Today, plastics are used in plumbing, kitchenware, packaging, and construction, among other functions. Their lightweight, easy molding, strength, and durability are primary benefits. However, plastics pose a severe threat to the environment due to their slow decomposition rate. Plastic debris can be spotted in most urban areas, coastlines, and trade routes. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the topic of plastic pollution in different spheres, including its impact on the environment and sustainable solutions.
The non-biodegradable nature of plastics raises a challenge to discarding them after their usefulness. The wide use of plastics, especially polyethylene bags and bottles, results in enormous waste (Rhodes, 2018). Since it takes many years
...to decompose naturally, it keeps accumulating, posing a threat to the environment. The most obvious option that many people use is burning them, which raises another problem of air pollution. The burning of plastics pollutes the air by releasing toxic gases, such as BCPs (polychlorinated biphenyl), dioxins, and furans, which jeopardize the well-being of humans, animals, and surrounding vegetation (Forrest et al., 2019). Besides, dumped plastic releases greenhouse gases when exposed to sunlight, contributing to climate change. When the plastic wastes, especially polyethylene, are washed into lakes and oceans, they emit ethylene and methane, further polluting the environment.
Apart from releasing toxic fumes when burned, it is also a threat on land or in water bodies. Research shows that plastics act as vectors for contaminants, such as heavy metals, distributed even to native places when the product is carried away
by wind and ocean currents (Forrest et al., 2019). A 2019 report classified the production of plastics and incineration plants as a significant contributor to climate change (Parker, 2020). By 2030, it is estimated that annual emissions from plastics will grow to 1.34 billion tons (Parker, 2020). While on land, plastic poses a threat to animals and plants. The accumulated plastic in the ocean reduces the oxygen circulation, posing a danger to marine life. Plastics are also a significant cause of drainage problems, leading to water stagnation, making mosquitoes easy to breed. Thus, plastic pollution is a severe problem that endangers the entire ecosystem.
The most celebrated waste management option for dealing with plastics is recycling. Still, the challenges of collecting plastics and the high-cost recycling plants impede the efforts of entirely eradicate plastic pollution. The recycling rate of plastics in the US was 8.7% in 2018, which means that more than 90% resulted in waste that ended up in landfills, marine litter, or incineration (Rhodes, 2018). The sustainable solution to plastic pollution is through the circular economy approach, which begins at the product design stage and raw material selection (Forrest et al., 2019). This approach ensures that manufactured products are reusable and minimize the need for mining or dumping the final waste. Some innovative ways developed to reduce excessive reliance on plastic include using perfectly biodegradable cups for tea in place of plastics, such as seaweed or spider silk film, to make single-use sachets. Hence, plastic pollution requires an innovative and sustainable solution.
In brief, plastic pollution is an enigma that jeopardizes the entire ecosystem. The foremost is that plastics are non-biodegradable,
making discarding them a problem. It is also a significant contributor to environmental pollution, including releasing greenhouse gases and ocean pollution. Only a tiny percentage of the total waste is recycled, leading to accumulation—the most viable option is to limit plastic use through a circular economy. As much as plastics play a crucial role in our daily lives, it is undeniable their production needs to be reduced for a better tomorrow.
References
- Forrest, A., Giacovazzi, L., Dunlop, S., Reisser, J., Tickler, D., Jamieson, A., & Meeuwig, J. (2019). Eliminating Plastic Pollution: How a Voluntary Contribution from Industry Will Drive the Circular Plastics Economy. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00627
- Parker, L. (2020). Plastic trash flowing into the seas will nearly triple by 2040 without drastic action. Science. Retrieved 20 February 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/07/plastic-trash-in-seas-will-nearly-triple-by-2040-if-nothing-done/.
- Rhodes, C. (2018). Plastic Pollution and Potential Solutions. Science Progress, 101(3), 207-260. https://doi.org/10.3184/003685018x15294876706211
