This week, I want to highlight the plastic free July movement, lets take a step beyond the campaign. I want to take a deeper dive into plastic, why there would be a campaign around it, what the real solution is, and what we can do about it.
Let’s start with some perspective around plastic. Plastic literally means pliable and easily shaped, only recently has it been associated with a category of materials called polymers. Polymers are made from long chains of molecules and are all around us, for example the cell walls of plants are very similar to a natural occurring polymer.
There is a reason polymers are all around us, it is a very efficient and durable formation. In what we now call plastics, the use of carbon atoms which originate from petroleum and other fossil fuels not only imitate natural occurring chains of molecules, but are often much longer and stronger, making them last much longer then natural occurring polymers. While each type of plastic decomposes at a different rate, based on the molecules used to create it, the span is exponentially longer then naturally occurring polymers, often in terms of hundreds of years. A disposable diaper for example, takes around 550 years to decompose in a landfill while plastic bottle may take closer to 450 years.
In the 1970’s the use of plastics skyrocketed, in particular for single use implications, which allows us to see the problem. We have developed a product intended to last for centuries and we are using it in applications meant to last days, perhaps minutes.
Thus the importance of “reduce” and “reuse” over recycling. Not that recycling is bad, but of all the plastic waste that was produced between 1950 and 205, only 9% was recycled. Even in cities with successful recycling programs, generally only 20-40% of the total amount of recyclable material is captured and of that amount, only 5-10% is plastic material.
So we are drowning in plastic. When you have a flood in your home you have a few choices. You can ignore it, and soon the water will overtake your home. You can grab a bucket and try to pull the water out, but it will continue flow in as you remove it, or you can shut off the water. Generally speaking, shutting off the source of the water will be the most effective.
The same analogy can be applied to plastic - ignore it and you basically have our current state. Recycle it and you are grabbing a bucket and bailing water. Stop purchasing it, or stop using it for single use applications and you are shutting off the water.
One of the most important things we can do is take the first step towards reduction. Plastic Free July is an opportunity to take that step. A walk through your home or work will allow you to see the many places we are purchasing plastic, and often for short term use. Pick one area and find an alternative to purchasing in plastic.
This may mean buying in bulk and refilling containers. Personally, my family purchased glass foaming soap dispensers and Castile Soap. Using 4 Cups of water for every 1/4 cup of soap, we are no longer buying plastic hand soap containers. A simple step to eliminate one stream of plastic entering our home. Take a look at your workplace or home. Is there an opportunity to eliminate just one stream of single-use plastics?
The journey begins with the first step. #PlasticfreeJuly provides an opportunity to take that step. More resources can be found on the campaign website, https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/.