We know that plastic waste in nature leads to significant environmental pollution. Plastic breaks down very slowly and can remain in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years. It can contaminate land and water, affecting ecosystems and wildlife. Microplastics, which are formed when plastic is fragmented, can enter the food chain and harm both animals and humans. That is why we in Denmark are good at disposing of and recycling plastic.
What exactly is plastic?
Plastics are a variety of materials that all share one essential property; their polymeric nature. Polymers are large molecules that are formed by linking smaller units together, like building blocks.
The wide applicability of plastic has made it extremely valuable and ubiquitous. For example, it is now present in a great deal of clothing and footwear (including synthetic fibers such as polyester), healthcare (disposable medical devices), food and beverages (packaging), and even transportation (aircraft components).
Plastic production is increasing sharply. Among other things, due to the following:
1. Population growth
2. Economic growth, especially in new markets (in sub-Saharan Africa, plastic consumption in 2060 is expected to be 6 times greater than in 2019)
3. Urbanization, including urban development and lifestyle (increased demand for single-use plastics in developing countries)
4. Major technological advances, including the development of computers and mobile phones, which have been made possible by plastics.
The scope of the problem
Plastic has been commercially available since 1907, but mass production did not begin until 1952. Since then, annual plastic production has increased almost 200-fold . When plastic waste is deposited in landfills or disposed of irresponsibly, large quantities of hard-to-degrade plastic materials leak into nature. Also in the seas.
How much plastic ends up in the oceans?
- At least eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year.
- It is estimated that around 40% of the ocean surface is covered in plastic waste.
- If our plastic consumption and behavior continue, researchers warn that there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans as early as 2030.
Plastic waste
Almost half of all plastic waste (46%) is thrown into landfill.
1,500 plastic bottles are thrown away every second worldwide.
Around 83% of the plastic packaging disposed of by households is for food and beverage packaging.
Around 160,000 plastic bags are used every second.
What can we do?
Should we stop using plastic?
No, but we must dispose of it correctly and recycle as much as possible. In Denmark, we are doing well. There are also other countries that do that. The plastic policy of the African country Rwanda is one of the most advanced and strict in the world. In 2008, Rwanda became one of the first countries to ban the use of single-use plastic bags. This law covered the production, import, sale and use of these plastic bags. In 2019, Rwanda expanded the ban to include all single-use plastic products such as bottles, straws, plates and forks. The EU followed suit with more plastic bans as well.
But... there are many countries in the world that have neither the knowledge nor the financial capacity to deal with the plastic problem. Here, plastic is burnt off, buried, thrown into the sea/river or left on streets and alleys. In those places, we must help with knowledge and we must invest in waste collection, sorting and recycling. We must teach these countries to treat plastic waste as we do in Denmark and Rwanda.
Molly's Heart and plastic
We get all our large baskets produced in Senegal in tiny villages. We teach the women about waste management, recycling etc. And we ensure that the plastic used for the baskets is exclusively biodegradable recycled plastic. We also get many baskets produced with a "natural thread" in reeds, where we do not use plastic at all. We call these "organic" curves.
If you have any questions or want to know more, please get in touch. You can also check this link: https://viewpoint.bnpparibas-am.com/beyond-the-bottleneck-redesigning-our-relationship-with-plastic/
With love, Birgitte