Plastic pollution in our oceans is a highly emotive issue, and Sir David Attenborough among others has helped to focus the attention of us all on the impact of our lifestyles.
A transition is underway in our relationship with plastic - but it’s a very chaotic transition, with multiple agendas and outright greenwashing confusing consumers, companies and regulators.
We all know we should stop using new plastic. But how? What are the solutions? How long will it take? Will we use new plastics in 2040?
Despite all the attention on plastic pollution over the past few years, the sheer scale of the problem still astounds. 855 billion single-use sachets are produced on this planet each year. They cannot be economically recycled.
We’re not reducing our dependence on plastic - production is projected to grow by over 40% this decade alone. Recycling doesn’t work. And as a false solution, it is delaying and preventing the adoption of genuine solutions.
Reuse, refill, reduction and format change are viable solutions. But they require in some cases significant changes in consumer behaviour. The only real solution to plastic pollution is a plastic that doesn’t pollute.
Many of the first generation of ‘natural’ replacements for plastic are compromised, and often promoted with false claims, confusing consumers and companies.
But a next generation of genuine replacements for plastic are coming to the market, including natural polymers (such as Xampla’s plant protein, or casein) and synthetic biology solutions such as PHA.
These have the potential to solve the plastic pollution problem, with appropriately targeted regulation and support to address barriers to entry.
Plastic keeps us safe, it preserves and protects and provides convenience. But it comes with costs that are not captured in its price. In 2040, we will still be using new plastic.
How much depends on the commercial success over the coming years of the companies with natural alternatives that do not pollute.
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