RUNNING HEAD: THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PLASTIC

Long-Term Implications of Plastic Packaging and its Production

on Developed and Developing Countries

Emily J. Gonzalez

Mr. Falls

Tallwood High School

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Abstract

Plastics are a part of daily life and are the material people depend on for a multitude of purposes.

It is easy to manufacture, cheap to produce, and light to transport. However, most people do not

take the time to think about the toll that plastic has on the environment. With 400 million metric

tons of plastic being produced each year, most countries do not know how to effectively dispose

of it, so they often turn to landfills. Although this may seem like a viable option, plastic waste

from landfills often ends up in the ocean where they are left to be eaten by fish and other marine

wildlife, which accounts for over 1 million deaths per year. This paper will discuss the history of

plastic, how the problem came about, where it is today within different countries across the

globe, and what the future has in store if no change is made. It will also explore how certain

nations have stepped up to help solve this issue in order to set the stage for a brighter future.
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Table of Contents

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………... 2

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………….3

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………. 4

Limitations………………………………………………………………………………………...

Literature Review………………………………………………………………………………….6

Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………………8

History of Plastic…………………………………………………………………………..8

Limitations of Recycling…………………………………………………………………..8

Dependency on Plastic…………………………………………………………………….9

Marine

Impact………………………………………………………………………….…10

Global

Viewpoint…………………………………………………………………………11

Solutions………………………………………………………………………………….1

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………..1

References………………………………………………………………………………………..15
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Long-Term Implications of Plastic Packaging and its Production on Developed and Developing

Countries

The concept of the modern plastics industry was not introduced to the world until the

1950’s, so within just a few decades people all around the world have managed to foster such a

huge dependency on plastic. Each year, nearly 400 million metric tons of plastic waste is

produced and disposed of, more than half of that coming from single-use plastics including

disposable forks, cups, bags, etc. Plastics have managed to work their way into almost every

aspect of the average human’s life as it is in one’s clothing, electronics, writing utensils, and

even chewing gum. It has all become such a second nature to everyone, so much so that its effect

on the environment is rarely a thought or priority in people’s minds.

With such a high rate of waste generation and consumption of plastic products, most

countries do not know how to effectively handle the problem. With poor waste management

policies instilled by most governments, the plastics being disposed of on a daily basis end up

littering the earth and its waterways, which in turn affect marine wildlife. Even in countries

where management is somewhat contained, the issue of recycling is hardly properly met. With

such a small percentage of all plastic waste being recycled, accumulation of waste in landfills is

skyrocketing.

Looking back to before plastics were created and introduced into modern society, the

world functioned just fine with the materials they did have which were far more sustainable and

environmentally friendly than their synthetic counterparts. Many countries are taking lessons

from the past while incorporating their ideals for the future by putting policies and bans in place

to help restore the world to its original condition.

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Limitations

This paper will discuss the long-term implications of plastic packaging and its

production, and its impact on the environments of developed and developing countries. While

the author recognizes the research question is quite broad and yields the scope for a wide range

of different topics, they will attempt to focus on only a select few.

One of the major stipulations regarding plastic and its production is the chemical leaching

that occurs and its adverse effects towards humans and wildlife. While this topic is worthy of

discussion, the author chooses to focus more on the visible, physical harm plastic has imposed

upon the planet. The paper will discuss the current waste management policies in place and how

they have historically failed to solve the issue. It will also explore the history of plastic

production and how it has evolved to where it is today.

As stated above, the author will discuss the issue in both developed and developing

countries, not limiting the scope of research to any one economic sect of the globe. The research

will not specifically exclude any particular geographical area of the world, however; it will more

thoroughly discuss the shortcomings and successes of certain countries within Asia, Europe, and

North America.

Apart from limiting the focus of research, the author will face other obstacles while

writing this paper. One challenge being able to develop a paper that brings something new to the

table that proves interesting to read while covering a topic that has been widely discussed for

many years prior to its writing. In addition, the author is limited to their sources of research as

they are relying on databases and other online websites to gather information and does not have

the ability to get any data directly or from credible in-person experiences.

Literature Review
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The threat of plastic pollution has been a growing topic of debate in the last decade or so,

and the issue is still at large; some even claim that the issue is worse than ever before. The author

of this paper researched the magnitude of the issue and how it is negatively affecting the Earth.

While researching, the author used a variety of different articles, reports, and journals to cover

every area of the topic the paper focuses on while attempting to incorporate varying viewpoints

and global perspectives.

The world’s vast use of plastic products is continually growing and causing a myriad of

issues within the environment. In an article written by Laura Parker of National Geographic,

Parker talks about just how big this issue has become. The article, “We Made Plastic. We

Depend on it. Now We’re Drowning in it.,” discusses the enormity of the problem by providing

specific statistics, reports, and graphs on the amount of plastic littering the planet. Parker also

includes various photographs and examples from several different parts of the world, giving the

article a solid stance on global perspectives. She then goes into discussing the history of the

plastic production industry to help explain how the world got to the situation it is in currently.

To review the overall use of plastics, The Royal Society published, “Accumulation and

fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments,” an article which analyzes the different

types of plastics most used, disposal statistics, and the accumulation densities within different

global regions. By studying this topic and collecting this data, the society was able to pinpoint

the specific environments that are most threatened. The article presents the amount of plastic

generated and disposed of by category and source of consumption to reveal the efficacy of

recycling and alternative waste management systems.

Perhaps the most widely referenced resource used to construct this paper was a report

composed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) titled, “Single-Use Plastics:
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A Roadmap for Sustainability.” This report thoroughly discusses a large array of topics

concerning the many environmental threats of plastic. The UNEP essentially explores the

journey of plastic, starting with its history and then taking the reader through its means of

production, consumption, after-life, etc. In addition, the report also explores possible solutions to

the problem while informing the reader of how past attempts and poor waste management

policies have failed to fix the problem.

To further examine the afterlife of plastic, Renee Cho of Columbia University wrote an

article titled, “What Happens to All That Plastic,” to discuss plastic waste management and

possible uses for plastics that have been sent to the landfill. Cho explores the limits of recycling

by providing shocking statistics of just how little plastic is actually recycled and why the

percentage is so low. The article then directs attention towards the fact that several different

organizations and institutions have discovered methods to divert plastic from the landfill to be

used in more productive and innovative ways. Cho explains that the amount of un-recycled

plastic has the potential to be converted into gasoline, oil, and several other types of energy, yet

it remains useless in the landfill as it continues to take up space and affect the well-being of the

organisms around it.

So, if the world is becoming aware of the harsh environmental detriments of plastic, why

is so much of the material still being produced and consumed? An article from BBC News titled,

“Plastic fantastic: How it changed the world,” works to describe the plastic dependency the

world has gradually developed. The author argues that plastic is a major part of the modern

world by explaining that almost everything used by humans on a daily basis involves some sort

of plastic. The author discussed alternatives to plastic packaging but then explained that many of

the alternatives would not be plausible in today’s world. The article described that creating an
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effective and plausible production system to replace the one currently being used would cost

more than the world is willing to spend.

Discussion

History of Plastic

The first plastic ever made was introduced to the world in 1862 (History of Plastic). This

plastic named “Parkesine” was man-made and entirely composed of organic compounds, mostly

cellulose. Then in 1907, another sample of plastic was created of fully synthetic materials, which

sparked the beginning of the modern plastic industry. Years later, several adaptations were made

to the original creation, most of which took place in the World War 2 era. While the different

plastics and polymers were used to create durable, yet lightweight products to support the war

effort, the product quickly spread commercially and began its use in more everyday items such

as milk cartons and plastic bags. The greatest question regarding the history of plastic is how

something with such potential and initial intention as a durable, long-lasting material transform

into being used most popularly for disposable and single-use products today?

Limitations of Recycling

Quite often, people use the concept of recycling as an excuse to use so many single-use

plastic products. While many have the idea that recycling is the almighty solution to plastic

waste, in reality, recycling barely makes a dent. Amongst all the plastic being thrown away, only

around 9% of it is actually being recycled; the rest is either incinerated or sent straight to the

landfill (Cho, 2012). Once at the landfill, plastic can take up to 1,000 years to fully decompose,

allowing for centuries of trash to continue accumulating upon the earth (“Single-Use Plastics,”

2018). So little plastic is being recycled because the products in question were not created to be

recycled. Many plastics today are manufactured with a resin code, symbolized by “chasing
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arrows” around a number between 1 and 7 (“Recycling Plastic,” 2009). These codes, which

many mistake as assurance that the product is able to be recycled, simply were intended to

inform the consumer and manufacturer of what chemical compound was used to produce the

item (“Recycling Plastic,” 2009). Of these seven codes, many cities around the world,

specifically within the United States, only accept products marked with a “1” or “2” (Cho, 2012).

The process for handling plastics that have been recycled obviously has its flaws, yet

perhaps the greater issue lies in encouraging people to recycle in the first place. Even though

plastic bottles are one of the few items eligible for easy recycling, 86% of the plastic bottles used

in the United States fail to even make it to the recycling bin (“Recycling Plastic,” 2009).

Dependency on Plastic

The concept of modern plastics was not introduced until the 1950s, therefore, the world

managed to develop their dependency upon plastics within just a few decades. Since then, the

world has transitioned from their once relatively sustainable practices to make day-to-day life

more convenient. The improvements in manufacturing that took place in the 50s and 60s allowed

for the mass production of plastic to be extremely cheap, shifting the focus to the new material as

the superior alternative (Plummer, 2018).

Each year, 400 million tons of plastic is produced around the globe--packaging alone

accounting for 47% (“Single-Use Plastics,” 2018). Other sectors in which plastics are most

widely used include building/construction, textiles, electric, and several others contributing

smaller percentages (Ritchie & Roser, 2018).

Plastics are incorporated in nearly every single aspect of life, making it almost impossible

to escape. They have made their way into a multitude of products, many of which are not

publicized to the world. Most chewing gum, for example, is made with polyethylene, a plastic
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used in the making of disposable bottles and bags. Major gum companies get away with hidden

plastics by including it in the ingredients as a ‘gum base’ as they are not required by law to

disclose the specific products included in their ‘trade secrets’. Most pieces of clothing are also

constructed with synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, and acrylics which are, of course,

made from plastic. Each time these clothes are washed, microplastics are leached into the water

system. Plastic is even present in aluminum cans and glass jars with lids, which are two products

used as an alternative to plastic bottles. Cans used for soda or soup have a thin layer of plastic

resin to prevent the interaction of the product with metal and the lids of glass jars have a plastic

film to help create a better seal. (“Surprising Items,” 2018).

Marine Impact

The accumulation of plastic is not only a problem on land but especially in water. Each

year, approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans (Le Guern, 2018). At

this current rate, it is predicted that there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish by the year

2050 (“Plastics in the Ocean,” 2018). There are currently 5 major offshore plastic accumulation

zones across the globe within the 5 oceans. The largest of these zones is the Great Pacific

Garbage Patch which is located between California and Hawaii. This zone covers about 1.6

million square kilometers. Which, for comparison, is larger than the areas of Spain, France, and

Germany combined. Counting both the mass of the innermost cluster as well as the the outer

layer, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is estimated to have 100,000 tons of garbage and a range

from 1.1 to 3.2 trillion pieces of plastic debris (“The Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” 2018).

This large amount of plastic waste in the oceans poses a huge direct threat to marine

wildlife. Every year, 100,000 marine creatures and 1 million seabirds die from plastic

entanglement (“Plastic Statistics,” 2018). With so much plastic floating in the water, sea turtles
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and other marine animals often mistake it for food, causing them to ingest it. Since plastic takes

so long to decompose, often times the same piece of plastic can kill several different creatures.

Once the plastic is ingested and leads to the death of an animal, that animal decomposes and

leaves behind the plastic remnants for another creature to consume (“Plastic Statistics,” 2018).

Global Viewpoint

The plastics issue is extremely prominent in South and Southeast Asia as a large majority

of the waste that is produced is mismanaged, meaning that the waste that is generated is disposed

of in dumps or in open/uncontrolled landfills where it is not fully contained nor regulated,

leaving it to litter the land and clog waterways. It is estimated that more than half of the plastic

waste within the ocean comes from just five Asian countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines,

Vietnam and Thailand. 90% of the plastic currently in the ocean today stems from 10 rivers, 8 of

which are located in Asia (Wood, 2018).

China is currently the largest producer of plastic in the world. In 2010, they produced

nearly 60 million tons alone, compared to America, with the second highest total of 38 million.

China also contributes the most mismanaged plastic waste, with almost 28% of the global total.

The amount of mismanaged waste within a country often has to do with income. It has been

found that mismanaged waste is low in low income areas, the highest in middle income areas,

and low once again at high income areas. China falls right into that middle income area with a

common income of 16,760 PPP dollars, (United States = 60,200 PPP dollars) which helps to

explain this phenomenon (Ritchie & Roser, 2018).

Only recently have certain Asian countries began making steps in the right direction. In

2018, China banned the import of plastic waste from other countries and has also claimed that
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they plan to reach a 35% recycling rate by 2020. Other countries including Bangladesh and India

have announced an anticipated plastic bag ban in the near future (Wood, 2018).

Solutions

While the plastics issue is troublesome, it is not like this everywhere. Several countries

around the world have had a strong dedication to lessening their footprint and have made giant

strides towards bettering the policies they have in place to do so. For example, in 2015, Costa

Rica announced that they will be eradicating the production and use of all single-use products by

2021 making it the first nation in the world to do so. This plan will ban all plastic straws, cups,

utensils, bottles, etc and will be replacing them with 100% recyclable and biodegradable

alternatives (Hutt, 2017). There are also currently almost 60 other countries around the world

that have claimed that they plan to ban single-use plastic bags within the next decade (Kiprop,

2018). Countries such as Germany have systems in place to help effectively dispose of the plastic

waste they do produce. Last year, Germany had a recycling rate of 66.1%, which is more than 7

times the rate we manage to have in America (Gray, 2017).

While the introduction of environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic is essential to

making a change in progressing past this issue, the concept of education and social pressure is

equally as important. Since plastic has been so depended on for several decades, eco-friendly

alternatives alone will not be able enough to effectively solve the issue long-term. The

integration of proper education about how to properly take care of the environment and the

effects one’s actions have on the Earth will eventually help eradicate the issue for the future

(“Single-Use Plastics,” 2018).

Conclusion
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For many, plastic is a necessity for daily living. Since the dawn of the modern plastic

industry, these polymers have found their way to be integrated into almost every aspect of human

life. From mechanical pencils and disposable bags to utensils and chewing gum, the material is

virtually inescapable. Learning to fight against these norms, find ways around these obstacles

and create more environmentally friendly alternatives is something that has been recently

growing in popularity as more and more people are being informed of the harm plastic is causing

the planet.

For many years, environmentalists and scientists have studied the long-term effects of

plastic packaging on the environment. While plastic is quicker, easier, and more convenient for

businesses in America and across the world, the environmental toll these products have on the

environment is something that has long been ignored. As the problem is continuing to progress

and worsen, the world is growing weaker and weaker. Without immediate action and policy

change, the Earth will continue to degrade to the point of no return.

Several countries all around the world have started to take such initiative by imposing

bans on single-use plastics to help lessen the waste that is being produced in the first place. In

other countries, there are stellar waste management policies and systems put into place to

effectively dispose of trash and prevent any debris from entering the ocean or other waterways.

The solutions are simple, the initiative just has to be taken to make a change.
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