13 Facts you Might not Know About Plastics

It seems to be in the news all the time - plastic in the oceans, in the food chain and now falling in the snow in the arctic. As this becomes a topic on everyone's lips here are some facts that you might not know about plastic. You can share these around the office while you fill up in your water bottle or reusable glass!

1. Plastic is made from oil and the organisations linked with the plastics industry are big fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil and Shell.
 
2. Plastic was originally marketed as freeing women from household chores like washing up- because single-use plates meant they could just be thrown away.  

3. A polystyrene clamshell box (one you might get from a kebab van, in the early hours) has a lower carbon footprint than an aluminium takeaway box, although the issues with littering and microplastic creation from polystyrene are significant waste issue.  (Journal of cleaner production)

4. These signs were not designed to tell customers which plastics can be recycled. They were created by the plastics industry in 1988 as a way of classifying the hundreds of plastic types- it's no wonder plastic recycling is confusing!

5. According to Peter Rem, Professor of Resources and Recycling, Delft University of Technology "Plastics polymer manufacturers have not been motivated to make the perfect plastic polymer, one that could be endlessly recycled, because that would do them out of business"

6. The current backlash against single-use packaging isn't new. In the USA, in the 1970’s,  there were protests against throwaway containers, following the move away from reusable. However, the organisation 'Keep America Beautiful' turned the responsibility back to consumers with their campaign 'People start pollution. People can stop it'.  Turns out that Keep America Beautiful was a campaign started and funded by the packaging industry. Read more about The Crying Indian Ad that fooled the environmental movement.  

7. Fast forward to 2019, and the Plastics Industry created a new body called ‘The Alliance to End Plastic Waste’, whilst simultaneously an anticipated $200 billion will be invested in the US petro-chemical industry according to Wood Mackenzie Chemicals. 

8. One of the bigger causes of micro-plastics in the oceans is from car tyres according to research commissioned by Friends of the Earth, yes that's right they are made from plastic and not from rubber. 

9. Compostable plastics do not decompose if they become litter or end up in the oceans- they need to be heated to 60’ for 90 days in a composting facility that has previously agreed to accept them.   

10. The definition of a bio-plastic is one made plants or one that biodegrades e.g. a compostable plastic. However this also means that oxo-degradable plastics, which are made from oil are classified as bio-plastics. This is because they break down when exposed to oxygen and sunlight, although they actually end up as micro-plastics. Thankfully they are being banned by the EU in 2020. 

And now for something positive (wooo hoo)......

11. The Ellen MacCarthur Foundation has 350+ packaged goods companies, raw material producers and governments  wouldwide sign up to the New Plastics Economy thus far. They have all committed to: E

• Eliminate all problematic and unnecessary plastic
• Innovate to ensure that the plastics we do need are reusable, recyclable, or compostable
• Circulate all the plastic items we use to keep them in the economy and out of the environment 
  
  

​12. The UK Plastics PACT, a voluntary scheme of manufacturers, supermarkets, producers and NGO's  have pledged to ban the sale of 8 problematic plastics before the ban for the same items come into effect in the EU:

1. Disposable plastic cutlery 
2. All polystyrene packaging 
3. Cotton buds with plastic stems 
4. Plastic stirrers 
5. Plastic straws 
6. Oxodegradables that break down to create microplastics 
7. PVC packaging 
8. Disposable plastic plates and bowls 
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​13. The UK Government is proposing a tax on plastic packaging that doesn't contain 30% recycled content. This is to stimulate the recycled plastic industry in the UK  by encourage packaging to be made from recycled plastics.  ​

Are you keen to take action on plastics in your workplace? 

Are you experiencing these problems? 

• You want to talk to your suppliers about the packaging they keep sending you
• You are confused about whether you should move to a bio or compostable plastic 
• You want to reduce the volumes of single-use coffee cups and takeaway boxes you see in the bin

​Then we have designed the online course just for you... find out more.