It’s been described as a war. A war between the plastics industries and the movement toward a cleaner, safer environment. Like most wars, the sides are not even. The plastics industries are endowed with billions of dollars, herds of lawyers and lobbyists, and a hold on consumers with other priorities than the environment. On the other side are the scattered, mostly non-profit organizations with determination to educate the public on plastic pollution and move governments toward action but without the mega-phonic voice of the opponent.

On the bright side, it seems that there are more and more articles, news program segments, and blogs promoting responsible actions to curb the massive plastic pollution problem around the world. Exposes on what really happens to the used plastic we discard are appearing. They are hard to watch but are urgently needed.

An enormous influence in the growth of public awareness has been news of China’s decision to halt import of our used plastic products in 2018. Until that happened, it was blithely “out of sight, out of mind” for consumers. The myth was that China was using this plastic as a resource in manufacturing other goods when in fact, now we learn that much of it was buried in Chinese landfills or burned, creating dangerous air pollution. Now we are stuck with those bottles and plastic bags and containers here on our own shores. There have been attempts to foist it off on third world countries but truly, moving it from one place to another is irresponsible.

Fortune Business Insights last year reported that the demand for plastic is rising from food and beverage industries to minimize food quality degradation and contamination. (In a previous article I wrote that food contained in plastic is likely absorbing chemicals from the wrapping, according to reliable resources.) The textile industry likes it for durability and elasticity. It can be made rigid for making car parts.

On the other hand, the same article notes that bioplastic demand is also up.

Bioplastic is made from recyclable, non-petroleum based, natural ingredients like corn, palm leaves, bamboo, things that will compost, etc. It seems that the public’s increasing demand for smarter, non-polluting products is having an effect. However, for the effect to be real, the bioplastic share of the market will need an enormous increase.

Even local and state governments are waking up to the fact that, “Houston, we have a problem” in the form of litter and landfills that are not only filling but also leaching their bi-product chemicals into ground water. Starting with local bans on single-use plastic bags and straws to state-wide similar legislation, it’s small but meaningful enough for the plastics industry to rally its lobbyists and lawyers to counter these rules with lawsuits to reverse them.

Further, they have sponsored legislation to “ban the bans,” convincing lawmakers, including in NH, to pass laws preventing towns and cities from establishing these bans. That any law-making body would even entertain such interference, to me, is unconscionable.

The bottom line seems to be that you and I need to be the driving forces for demanding major reduction of plastics in our stores and in our lives. Are you with me?

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