Plastic is a design failure. Fixing it is our design challenge
Many environmental issues are difficult to comprehend and communicate – and then there’s plastic pollution, one of the most widespread, pervasive and persistent threats to the oceans, nature and human health. Plastic is something everyone can easily see, identify and connect to in daily life. Wherever you are, look around. A material made popular just decades ago is now used everywhere, in every sector of the economy, produced from planet-warming fossil fuels. Traces of this design failure are now found in every ecosystem on Earth.
Plastic fragments are in snow and ice on the tallest mountains, in the stomachs of whales, birds, turtles and fish, on the sea wind, floating on the ocean surface and lurking on the seafloor. Microplastics are in the air we breathe and in our own bloodstreams. Despite the ubiquitous spread of pollution, plastic production and use is still rapidly growing and projected to surge over the next 20 years. More and more plastic items are produced every day, only to be used for moments and then thrown “away.” But where is ‘away’ for a material that never biodegrades and pollutes at every stage of its lifecycle?
91% OF PLASTICS ARE NEVER RECYCLED
8.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste have been produced since 1950. Less than 9 percent has been recycled. Almost every piece of plastic ever made still exists on this planet in some form. For recycling to really make a difference, we need to reimagine the material and the system that created it.
MICROPLASTICS IN THE OCEANS OUTNUMBER STARS IN OUR GALAXY
Plastic doesn’t break down, it breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. Some 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the oceans, outnumbering stars in the Milky Way 500 times over. This floating plastic is only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger and deeper issue. Even the sea breeze now carries microplastic particles through the air.
THERE WILL BE MORE PLASTIC THAN FISH IN THE OCEANS BY 2050
Plastic waste could outweigh fish in the oceans within 30 years. Whether or not that happens, swirling gyres of accumulated debris have already formed, turning the oceans into a plastic soup. Whales wash ashore with stomachs full of plastic bags, cups, bottles and everyday trash. Half the world’s sea turtles and almost all of the world’s seabirds have ingested plastic. It affects all levels of the marine food web.
THE INVISIBLE THREAT: MICROPLASTICS & MICROFIBERS
In the oceans, plastic photodegrades with exposure to the sun and surf, fragmenting into tiny segments. Microplastics, defined as plastic pollution smaller than 5 mm in diameter, are now spreading through waterways, lakes, rivers and streams. Joined by even smaller nanoplastics, this almost-invisible form of pollution has spread like a toxic smog into our soil, water, snow, ice, plants and even the air we breathe. From the highest peaks of the Himalayas to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, from table salt to bottled water and now inside us – it’s everywhere.
There are actions and strategies underway to address this problem, and early innovations available for consumers to help curb the threat. Still, the full extent of the issue remains poorly understood and difficult to address. One of the biggest challenges of the Material Revolution will be tackling the unseen microplastics and synthetic microfibers. Together with a global alliance of researchers, material experts and environmental groups, Parley is working to consolidate existing knowledge and develop new tools and methods to end this form of pollution and replace plastic for good. Understanding the problem is an imperative first step towards fixing it.
99% OF PLASTICS ARE MADE FROM FOSSIL FUELS
Almost every piece of plastic starts as fossil fuel, and scientists recently discovered that planet-warming gasses are released at every stage of the plastic life cycle. A global surplus of oil and demand for renewable energy is now driving fossil fuel companies to seek out new sources of demand, e.g., in petrochemical plants and polymer production. According to The Plastic Waste Makers Index by Minderoo Foundation, just 20 firms are responsible for the production of 55% of single-use plastics, with ExxonMobil named the top polluter.
PLASTIC WASTE EMITS GREENHOUSE GASES
Research at the University of Hawaii led by Parley collaborator Sarah-Jeanne Royer has demonstrated that many plastics actually give off powerful greenhouse gases, including methane, as they break down, contributing to climate change. Of particular concern is the plastic type which releases gasses at the highest rate: low-density polyethylene (or LDPE). This is also the most prevalent discarded plastic in the ocean today.
NEARLY HALF OF ALL PLASTIC HAS BEEN MADE SINCE 2000
Plastic production is exploding and still projected to grow. About 40 percent of plastic produced is used for packaging, items designed to be used once and then discarded. Only about 14 percent of plastic packaging is properly recycled. According to The Plastic Waste Makers Index by Minderoo Foundation, just 20 firms are responsible for the production of 55 percent of single-use plastics, with ExxonMobil named the top polluter.
DEMAND FOR PLASTICS COULD SURGE AS MUCH AS 90% BY 2050
Not only is plastic pollution considered ubiquitous, its production contributes significantly to climate change. Already, 6% of global oil consumption goes towards creating plastics – and for certain types of plastic like polyethylene (PET) the rate of carbon emissions can be as high as 5:1. So for every kilogram of plastic produced, 5 kilograms of CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. To limit warming and protect our own future in line with the goals of the Paris Climate Accord, scientists of the IPCC urge emissions must peak by 2025 and nearly halve by 2030. Where does this leave plastic?
800,000 TONS OF GHOST NETS END UP IN THE OCEANS ANNUALLY
A massive source of plastic debris in the oceans is fishing nets and gear. Whether lost at sea or intentionally discarded, left-behind nets become ‘ghost gear,’ drifting and catching sea life endlessly. More than 100,000 whales, dolphins, seals and turtles die every year from entanglement in plastic debris each year.
PLASTIC IS IN HUMAN PLACENTAS, heart tissues AND BLOODSTREAM
Toxic chemicals linked to reproductive issues, cancers and organ damage are used to make certain plastic softer, harder, more fire-resistant, or other properties. In the ocean environment, these chemicals can concentrate in the fish and marine mammals that consume plastic. There is cause for alarm, especially as research has found plastics in human blood, heart tissues, placentas and breastmilk. Whether ingested directly through the food we eat, swallowed in the water we drink or inhaled in the air we breathe, the presence of plastics in our bodies, placentas and now breastmilk raises urgent questions about human health now and for future generations.
AVOID PLASTIC WHEREVER POSSIBLE
INTERCEPT PLASTIC WASTE
REDESIGN MATERIALS, METHODS & MINDSETS
THE PARLEY AIR STRATEGY
The 3 R’s we all know — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle — suggest plastic is fine as long as you put it in the right bin. This keeps the onus on the consumer while producers continue making more plastic, and more waste. The truth is most plastic never gets recycled and much of it is currently unrecyclable. Furthermore, plastic pollutes at every stage of its lifecycle, releasing harmful microplastics, chemicals and greenhouse gases. To end the threat, we need a Material Revolution.
To help bring change into reality, Parley devised the Parley AIR Strategy, a simple, scalable framework adopted by individuals, households, businesses and governments. Inspired by the fact that every second breath we take is generate by the oceans, AIR stands for three pillars of action: Avoid. Intercept. Redesign.
PARLEY OCEAN PLASTIC® PROGRAM
In close collaboration with major brands, artists, activists, creators, thinkers and leaders, Parley is working to reduce overall plastic use and create the future of materials that can replace it. Developed by Parley and our network of material scientists, Parley Ocean Plastic® is a range of premium materials created from upcycled plastic intercepted in areas where mismanaged waste poses a threat to marine life and coastal communities. Awareness campaigns, cleanup operations and Ocean Plastic® allow us to alleviate immediate threats to marine wildlife and reduce the use of virgin plastics in product design, manufacturing and distribution. We recognize that we will only end marine plastic pollution long-term if we invent smarter materials and synchronize the economic system of humankind with the ecosystem of nature. Together with a network of experts, Parley operates an extensive research and development program to invent alternatives, support eco-innovation and establish new industry standards to drive a Material Revolution.
A GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
The Parley Global Cleanup Network works to protect marine environments from plastic pollution and other threats. Our cleanup collaborations remove plastic waste from beaches, remote islands, rivers, mangroves and high seas, and intercept ocean-bound plastics in coastal communities. It’s never just about cleaning up what the tide will wash in tomorrow. Together with global partners, we respond to plastic emergencies, raise awareness, and develop and implement programs that can help end the cycle of pollution long-term.
PARLEY OCEAN PLASTIC®
To supply Parley Ocean Plastic® at a global scale while meeting the highest environmental, social, and ethical standards, raw materials are sourced according to our Ocean Plastic® Framework, a scientifically developed sourcing index created in partnership with leading marine plastic pollution and waste management experts. This framework allows us to determine the geographic sourcing range of our materials — to know where recycling materials are recovered, and ensure plastic waste is intercepted through processes which meet the standards and goals of our mission.
PARLEY MATERIAL INSTITUTE
Together with a network of experts, Parley operates an extensive research and development program to invent alternatives, support eco-innovation and establish new industry standards to drive a Material Revolution.
FURTHER READING
