Plastic pollution is a global crisis with increased accumulation occurring from everyday items: bottles and tires, to polyester in clothing.
Various factors contribute to the proliferation of plastic waste, including industrial processes and improper waste disposal.
Unfortunately, global inequities further complicate this overarching issue. Pollution affects everyone but it disproportionately impacts marginalized populations in South America, Asia, and Africa which primarily comprise the Global South.
Addressing the root causes of pollution requires not only focused efforts to reduce plastic production and improve waste management but also addressing the systemic inequalities that perpetuate environmental injustices on a global scale.
While plastic has become ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives, the first semi-synthetic polymer wasn’t created until 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt and Alexander Parkes.
However, it took nearly four decades before it was successfully commercialized. This discovery was prompted by the limitations of available natural resources.
Globally environmental racism is a systemic issue that refers to the disproportionate exposure of minority communities to environmental hazards, pollutants, and waste facilities.
The consequences of these practices manifests as adverse health effects, both physical and mental leading to higher rates of asthma, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases in affected communities.
Recently there have been many proposed “solutions” to the environmental catastrophe the earth is heading towards, from banning plastic bags, replacing plastic straws, to using less paper.
Yet, while beneficial, none of these tactics have shown real long-term change. Plastic production is at an all-time high globally than in prior decades and recycling efforts are limited in their scope.
Relying on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the pressure companies feel to “Go Green” to create real change is naïve.
Instances of corporate giants being taken to court for failing to curb harmful practices in this field. For "Big Plastic," initiatives like the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) serve as ways to promote CSR on a grand scale, with major plastic producers pledging substantial funds to address plastic pollution.