In this post, I've rounded up 10 eye-opening plastic facts that might just make you pause ... and maybe even change a few habits along the way. It's all about learning, noticing, and taking small steps that add up.
In This Post:
- FACT #1: Plastic is not biodegradable - it turns into microplastic!
- FACT #2: Plastic production is harmful to the environment.
- FACT #3: Only a fraction is being recycled.
- FACT #4: Recycling plastic is harmful to the climate.
- FACT #5: Plastic leaks toxic substances.
- FACT #6: Millions of tons of plastic are in the ocean.
- FACT #7: Millions of fish and birds are killed.
- FACT #8: Microplastic poisons our soils.
- FACT #9: Microplastic is found in the human body.
- FACT #10: Plastic waste costs a lot of money.
- Act on These Plastic Facts: What YOU Can Do
The other day, I looked around my kitchen and realized: plastic was everywhere. The yogurt tub in the fridge, the bag of spinach on the counter, even the protective wrapper around the yummy vegan cookies. It's wild how much of our lives is quietly wrapped in it, isn't it?
Of course, plastic is convenient and cheap. But lately I've been learning some things about plastic that made me shake my head in disbelief - and, sadly, it's all true.
Did you know it can take hundreds of years for a single bottle to break down?
Or that we've produced billions of tons since the 1950s ... and almost all of it is still out there somewhere?
I pulled together 10 plastic facts that surprised me, and maybe they'll surprise you, too. My hope is that they spark the same mix of curiosity and motivation I felt (because once you know, you can't not know).
And if these facts leave you wondering what on earth to do next, I've gathered some tips on what each of us can do, including 40+ easy, everyday tricks to use less plastic. Small swaps really do add up.
But first things first: here are the 10 facts that started it all.
FACT #1: Plastic is not biodegradable - it turns into microplastic!
Plastic is an artificially (chemically) manufactured product that cannot be degraded by microorganisms as is the case with banana peels or apple cores, for example.
That is, plastic does not go away. Never.
But the weather and other environmental influences will eventually break it down into smaller and smaller pieces.
So small, in fact, that at some point they can no longer be perceived by the human eye. But these plastic pieces still exist. This is called (secondary) microplastic. (ZME Science)
FACT #2: Plastic production is harmful to the environment.
Plastic production requires petroleum, a fossil fuel with limited availability. Toxic gases are emitted during production. (Science Advances, EcoWatch)
The production facilities are major polluters and often make negative headlines due to accidents, fire, explosions, and the leaking of toxic chemicals. (Forbes)
FACT #3: Only a fraction is being recycled.
About 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced since the 1950s. Only about 9% has been recycled. (The Guardian)
Do more than 8 billion tons also seem outrageous to you?
We humans have a hard time wrapping our minds around such numbers. In the article Marine Plastics, the infographic "A Clearer Picture of Plastics" (scroll down to the middle of the article) clearly and vividly demonstrates what this number means:
8 billion tons correspond to about:
- 1 billion elephants 🐘
- 80 million blue whales 🐋
- or 822,000 Eiffel Towers
FACT #4: Recycling plastic is harmful to the climate.
Plastic waste is either landfilled, incinerated, or recycled. Of these three disposal options, recycling is the best, yet it is by no means environmentally friendly. (Our World in Data)
Recycling also consumes a lot of energy and generates CO2 emissions. In addition, plastic can only be recycled once, at most twice (unlike glass, which is infinitely recyclable). (Popular Mechanics)
Since China has banned plastic waste imports from other countries, it is estimated that the exporting countries (e.g. Germany and the US) will have to recycle or incinerate (or not produce at all) a total of 111 million tons of plastic waste by 2030. (Bloomberg)
FACT #5: Plastic leaks toxic substances.
Plastic contains harmful chemicals such as phthalates, BPS, Glyphosate, BPA, and also undisclosed material. (CHEM Trust)
These chemicals are released by heating or damage and are harmful to health. (Journalist's Resource)
Some of these chemicals have been classified as carcinogenic. (Journal of Carcinogenesis, The truth about cancer, Oncolibrary)
FACT #6: Millions of tons of plastic are in the ocean.
There are 150 million tons of plastic in our oceans today. (European Parliament News)
Every minute the equivalent of a truckload of plastic enters the ocean. (Greenpeace)
Unless we dramatically reduce our plastic consumption, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by 2050. (The Guardian)
FACT #7: Millions of fish and birds are killed.
Millions of marine animals are killed by plastic each year (by strangulation, swallowing, or due to chemicals contained in the plastic). (UNESCO, One Green Planet, Smithsonian Ocean)
FACT #8: Microplastic poisons our soils.
Microplastics can be found not only in the ocean but also onshore, polluting our soils and inland waters. (UN Environment)
FACT #9: Microplastic is found in the human body.
People are exposed to plastic, especially microplastic, and the potentially harmful chemicals they contain, from water, food, personal care products, and clothing. (Independent)
Microplastic has already been detected in the human stool. (The Guardian)
FACT #10: Plastic waste costs a lot of money.
The overall economic damage caused by plastic waste worldwide is estimated at around 13 billion dollars. The costs are usually not paid by the polluting parties themselves (plastic manufacturers and consumers), but by the coastal communities, the tourism industry, and the shipping industry. (The Guardian)
Act on These Plastic Facts: What YOU Can Do
So, what do you think? Wild, right?
But what feels even more surprising is how much of today's plastic is made just for packaging - something we use once and toss. Almost half of all plastic produced is single-use. Water bottles, candy wrappers, produce packaging, straws, coffee cups, bags… they're here for a moment and then gone, usually into the trash (or worse, onto our streets, rivers, and oceans).
Can we stop plastic pollution overnight? No, not on our own. But we can lower the demand for plastic by starting with the choices we make every day. Swap one thing at a time, try a new alternative, and slowly the habits add up.
To make it easier, I chatted with a zero-waste expert who shared 40+ clever tricks for cutting down on plastic - at home, at work, even on the go. It's the perfect starting place if you're just dipping a toe into the plastic-free world (and even the pros will find a few new ideas).
Thoughts? Ideas on these plastic facts? I'm curious to know... write them in the comments.
Wishing you planty of plastic-free delights,
Ramona
♥
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