What Is Plastic And Why Is It Bad?

Plastic has become an inseparable part of our daily lives. From product packaging to convenient and useful household items, plastic is truly everywhere. However, despite its affordability, durability, and convenience, plastic poses an alarming threat to our environment and global ecosystem.

Fun Fact: According to the UN Environment Programme, approximately 300 million tonnes of plastic waste (an amount equivalent to the weight of the human population) are produced every year. Yet only about 9% of this plastic is recycled, meaning the vast majority ends up in landfills or the natural environment.

As society becomes increasingly conscious of the issues surrounding plastic pollution, one common question arises: What exactly is plastic, and why is it a threat to our environment?

In this blog post, I will provide you with a brief overview of the fundamental properties of plastics. Followed by a more detailed description of the environmental consequences of their durability. (Hopefully, you'll have the necessary knowledge to make more informed decisions and actively reduce your plastic consumption by the end!)

What Is Plastic?

Fun Fact: According to the Water Footprint Calculator, it requires 22 gallons of water to produce one pound of plastic. This means it takes at least double the amount of water to produce a single-use bottle as the amount of water in the actual bottle.

Plastic is one of the most versatile materials humans have ever created. They are strong, lightweight, and can be easily shaped or molded through the application of heat and pressure into almost anything. From toothbrushes and water bottles to car parts and medical devices, plastics are an integral part of modern life.

There are 2 types of plastics: Thermoset and Thermoplastics. Thermosets typically cannot be recycled because they harden as you heat them, meaning that no matter how much heat you apply, they cannot be remelted into new material. On the other hand, thermoplastics are recyclable plastics because they can be remelted and remolded into new products.

The raw materials for today's plastics come from many sources, but the majority can be produced using hydrocarbons extracted from easily accessible natural materials such as natural gas, coal, and crude oil.

Summary: In simple terms, plastics are versatile materials that can be shaped using heat and pressure. They are known for their lightweight, durable, and cost-effective nature. The raw materials for plastics are derived from natural sources such as natural gas, coal, and crude oil.

Photo: © Yevhen Smyk via Getty Images

Why Is Plastic Bad For The Environment?

Given what we've just learned about plastics, it’s easy to understand why they’ve become an essential part of our modern world. From food packaging to car parts, electronics, and even clothing fibers, plastic’s versatility, durability, and low cost make it a go-to material for nearly every industry.

However, this convenience has also become one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. The very qualities that make plastic so useful are also what make it so harmful to our planet. Here’s why:

Reason #1 - Pollution: Plastics are a major contributor to global pollution.

• Air Pollution: The majority of plastics production relies on petroleum and natural gas, both are nonrenewable fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases during extraction and manufacturing.
• Land & Water Pollution: Improper disposal and inadequate recycling lead to plastic waste entering rivers, oceans, and natural environments, causing significant harm to the ecosystems and marine life.

Reason #2 - Non-Biodegradable: Standard plastics are not compostable, meaning they do not naturally break down over time. In fact, they can take up to 1,000 years or more to decompose, taking up valuable space in landfills and polluting natural habitats.

Over time, this slow degradation process not only pollutes soil and water but also releases toxic chemicals that can seep into the ground and contaminate crops or drinking water.

Reason #3 - Microplastics: Plastics can degrade into smaller fragments known as microplastics (tiny plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size!) These microscopic particles have now been found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and even in human blood and lungs.

Microplastics not only pollute water but also pose a danger to animals, as they can become entangled or mistake them for food, leading to internal injuries, starvation, or poisoning.

Reason #4 - Making Plastic Uses A Lot Of Natural Resources: The production of plastics requires significant amounts of energy and resources, including the extraction of fossil fuels, as well as large quantities of water.

Plastics account for around 4-8% of global oil consumption, a figure expected to rise to 20% by 2050. According to the Center for International Environmental Law, plastic production alone could generate 56 gigatons of CO₂ emissions by 2050 if current trends continue.

Summary: Due to these factors, plastic pollution has become a global environmental concern. They contribute to pollution, take centuries to decompose, generate microplastics that are harmful to animals, and require significant natural resources for production.

Photo: © Photoboyko via Getty Images

Does Plastic Harm Our Health?

Fun Fact: According to the American Chemical Society, microwaving food in plastic containers can release as many as 4.22 million microplastic and 2.11 billion nanoplastic particles from only one square centimeter of plastic area in just 3 minutes!

Yes, plastic can harm our health in more ways than most people realize. Here are some of the potential ways plastic can affect our well-being:

1. Toxic Chemicals: Plastic products can contain toxic chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and flame retardants. These chemicals can leach toxins into the food or drink they contain. When consumed, these toxins can enter our bodies and harm our health.
2. Microplastics & Nanoplastics: Microplastics (particles smaller than 5 millimeters) and nanoplastics (even smaller fragments invisible to the naked eye) are now found virtually everywhere: the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.

Exposure to the toxic chemicals found in plastic has been linked to various health issues in humans. These include cardiovascular diseases, developmental and neurobehavioral disorders, metabolic diseases, immune dysfunction, endocrine disruption, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Note: Plastic can pose risks to human health, but the extent of these risks may vary depending on the type of plastic, the specific chemicals involved, and the duration and intensity of exposure. However, considering the potential negative impacts, it is advisable to reduce plastic use whenever possible, especially in contexts where it comes into contact with food and beverages.

Summary: Despite being one of the most pervasive materials on the planet, plastic also poses a significant health risk, especially when it comes into contact with food and beverages. These chemicals have been shown to cause a wide range of effects on human health.

Photo: © Pancaketom via canva.com

Does Plastic Harm Wildlife Health?

Absolutely, plastic pollution has devastating effects on wildlife health across land and sea. According to Greenpeace, more than one million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals die each year as a direct result of plastic pollution in our oceans.

Marine animals, birds, and terrestrial creatures often mistake plastic debris for food and easily become entangled in it. While larger plastic items can lead to injuries, suffocation, and even death, smaller fragments known as microplastics can accumulate in the digestive system, causing reduced feeding signals.

Fun Fact: There are countless ways plastic ends up in the ocean, but rivers are a major contributor. According to The Ocean Cleanup, approximately 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic enter the sea from rivers each year. (More than half of this plastic is less dense than water, meaning it won't sink and will remain floating on the surface once it hits the ocean!)

Unfortunately, marine mammals don't understand the dangers that plastics pose to them. Floating plastic bags can resemble jellyfish to turtles, while small fragments of colorful plastic often look like fish eggs to seabirds. Once consumed, these plastics fill the animal’s stomach, giving a false sense of fullness and preventing them from eating real food.

Beyond ingestion, many animals also suffer from entanglement in plastic debris such as discarded fishing nets, six-pack rings, ropes, and plastic bags. When animals become trapped, they can lose mobility, suffocate, or drown. (This problem was created by humans, and only humans can fix it!)

Summary: Modern plastics never fully biodegrade. It can break down into smaller microplastics, where marine life and birds mistake them for food. Even worse, plastic can cause animals to become entangled, making them drown, starve, or choke to death.

Photo: © Retann via Getty Images

What Can We Do To Solve This Problem?

Due to the demand for plastic being high, many companies will continue producing plastic products for their consumers to earn profits. We (as consumers) must be aware of the plastic problem and start doing something about it.

Have you ever wondered where all the plastic stuff we throw away goes? Most of them will be transported to a landfill, where over 90% of them will spend the next hundreds of years to biodegrade.

Fun Fact: Nearly 180,000 trucks are being used to transport garbage each day throughout the United States, driving an average of 25,000 miles per truck each year.

To help solve the plastic pollution problem, we can take several actions:

1. Use Plastic-Free Products: One effective action to combat plastic pollution is to reduce as much of plastic products as possible. For example, switching from plastic toothbrushes to the alternative version bamboo toothbrushes, we can actively reduce the demand for plastic and encourage sustainable choices.
2. Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Minimizing our use of single-use plastics like plastic bags, water bottles, straws, take-out containers, and any other plastic items that are used once and then discarded can make a significant contribution to reducing plastic waste.
3. Proper recycling: This should go without saying, but when you use plastic products that can be recycled, always be sure to recycle them. By ensuring that recyclable plastic gets recycled properly, we can effectively prevent plastics from ending up in the landfill or oceans and reduce the need for new plastic production.

And remember to stay informed about plastic pollution issues, and consider spreading awareness with your friends, family, and community members for a helping hand!

Summary: Solving the plastic pollution problem requires collective effort. By making conscious choices, spreading awareness, promoting recycling, and switching to eco-friendly alternatives, we can work towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Quick Takeaway

Plastic is one of the most versatile and widely used materials in our modern life. Its lightweight, durable, flexible, and inexpensive nature makes it a go-to material for nearly every industry. However, this also created one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.

Most plastics are made from non-renewable fossil fuels such as crude oil or natural gas, and their production releases harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Once discarded, it just breaks down into smaller microplastics, where marine life and birds mistake them for food.

But the problem doesn’t end there, these plastics also contain toxic chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and flame retardants, which have been linked to numerous health problems, including hormonal disruption, immune system damage, developmental issues, and an increased risk of certain cancers. (Humans are unknowingly consuming plastic through food, water, and even the air we breathe!)

Frequently Asked Questions Relate To This Blog:

Question #1: How are plastics made?

Answer: From my knowledge, plastic is made from petroleum or natural gas. These materials are heated and then combined with other chemicals to create a polymer. Once the polymer is created, it can be molded into a variety of shapes. Some common plastic products include bottles, bags, and toys.

Question #2: How does plastic pollution affect the environment?

Answer: Plastic pollution can threaten the environment in many ways. They take hundreds of years to break down, pollute our water supply by contaminating it with harmful chemicals, or animals mistake it as food and eat it.

Question #3: What are some ways to reduce my plastic consumption?

Answer: If you're looking for a way to reduce your plastic pollution, I would recommend using a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic toothbrush. It's affordable and you don't have to do anything extra! Bamboo is a renewable resource that grows quickly and requires no pesticides or fertilizers.

Question #4: How to properly dispose of plastic products to minimize environmental impact?

Answer: Participating in a recycling program is one of the best ways to properly dispose of your plastic product and minimize the environmental impact of plastic. You can also reduce your plastic usage and choose sustainable alternatives to significantly diminish the environmental impact of plastic products.