Rethinking plastic
As plastic production soars to unprecedented levels, the UN’s stern warning, articulated by its environment chief, Inger Andersen, cannot be ignored. The message was unequivocal and resounding that recycling alone cannot extricate humanity from the plastic quagmire we find ourselves in.
Andersen’s admonition comes in the wake of the unveiling of the first draft of an international treaty on plastic pollution. This endeavor, slated for completion by the end of 2024, involves 175 countries, each with its own vision for tackling the plastic predicament. One of the foremost objectives, as emphasised by Andersen, is to eliminate single-use plastics wherever possible. These disposable items, often wrapped needlessly in plastic, are emblematic of our throwaway culture. Organic items bestowed upon us by nature in perfect biodegradable packaging, should not be suffocated in plastic shrouds. That plastic use is spiraling upward, with annual production surging past 460 million tons, can no longer be ignored. And if this trajectory persists, these numbers would surge three-fold by 2060, unleashing untold environmental havoc. Thus, there is an urgent need to bridge the chasm between those advocating for curbing raw polymer production and those championing reuse and recycling. It is high time we reacquaint ourselves with the wisdom of simplicity and sustainability. Beyond single-use plastics, the conversation must extend to the very nature of the products themselves. We must scrutinise whether a product necessitates a liquid form or if it can be reimagined as a powder, compressed or concentrated. This shift in thinking about product design holds the key to reducing plastic waste at its source.
It is time for a comprehensive re-evaluation of our relationship with plastics and a paradigm shift in consumer behavior, corporate responsibility and governmental policies is paramount. As the custodians of this planet, citizens must stand up and demand global commitment.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2023.
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