Unwrapping the Earth: Why We Need a Circular Economy, Now.

Single use plastics continue to overwhelm the planet. The answer is circular economy.

The amount of single use plastic we have consumed worldwide is enough to wrap the entire planet in one gigantic plastic bag.

Let that image sink in.

Picturing the Earth packaged up like the average fast food order is not pleasant, but it demonstrates how out of control our plastic consumption has become. We’ve only been making plastic at this scale since after World War II, and in that relatively short amount of time we have become very dependent upon it. And why not? Plastic is incredibly durable and the raw material can be made into endless products. When my kids played on Little Tykes toys, I used to imagine future anthropologists digging up all that plastic and wondering about an ancient population of very small people, scooting around in yellow and orange cars.

The rise of single-use plastics

But plastic products that we use over time and hand down to friends and family are not the biggest issue with this material. The larger problem has come from the ever increasing tide of single-use plastic – the kind we use and toss within minutes that will outlive us all in the landfill or out in the environment. Production of single-use plastic has been doubling every decade for the past forty years, with no signs of slowing down any time soon. 

In fact, it’s the opposite; the fossil fuel industry, facing declining market shares in other sectors, has set its sights on rapidly increasing plastic production. The industry plans to invest at least $400 billion in plastics by 2024, with an eye toward tripling production by 2040.

Additionally, the pandemic fueled a temporary increase in disposable plastic production. Progress toward transitioning to sustainable, reusable models took a big hit last year. Some estimates show that use of single-use products doubled during the pandemic, largely due to the increase in take-out meals and disposable protective gear.

The not-so-hidden inequity of plastic production

The increase in plastic production has serious human costs as well. As many of us now know, fossil fuel extraction and plastic manufacturing is often located near low-income communities of color. This close proximity means exposure to toxic pollution and greater risk of disease, from asthma to cancer. 

Those communities are fighting back. In St. James Parish, Louisiana, Sharon Lavigne successfully stopped construction of a $1.25 billion dollar plastics plant in her community. For her tireless efforts, she won the 2021 Goldman North America Prize, a global recognition of grassroots environmental heroes. 

We can support Sharon and other frontline eco-heroes by reducing our personal consumption of single use plastic.

The next step? A circular economy

But, as we begin to understand the magnitude of the plastic crisis, will individual behavior change be enough to solve it? The short answer is no. The longer answer is that we need to shift to a new model, one that moves away from the current “take-make-waste” system and replaces it with a “borrow-use-return” system that designs waste out of the picture. Imagine… what if packaging, clothing and electronics were all made from materials that could be re-made back into the same products? 

Why the circular economy model is feasible and necessary

It might sound pie-in-the-sky, but the circular economy concept is catching on around the globe. It’s proving not only feasible, but economically beneficial.  Effective recycling of materials like plastic will create markets for plastic waste and reduce the demand for virgin plastic. 

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s primary focus is pushing for a circular economy and helping people understand that this transition is needed to meet global climate change goals. MacArthur states that 45% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from production of steel, cement, aluminum, plastic and food. She says, “We won’t reach the climate target that we’ve set without changing the way those products are made.”

As the largest plastic consumer, USA must take drastic action

The European Union’s landmark regulations on plastic take effect July 3, 2021 and focus on the top 10 most common items, including plastic bottle caps, cutlery, straws, plates and all Styrofoam containers. The EU Plastics Strategy will unfold over this decade, increasing the amount of recycled content in packaging and requiring that manufacturers refill and reuse, creating a closed-loop system.

While Europe sets impressive new standards, the eyes of the world are on the USA, the world’s largest consumer of single use plastic. With our global influence and strong industrial heritage, we are poised to play a major role in the transition away from dependence on disposable products and toward a circular model. In service of cleaning up the planet for the next generation, there is great potential for innovation and market leadership.

Our role as individuals in reducing waste and pushing for circularity

Our consumer habits matter and send market signals to corporations. We can support the many companies that are already moving toward circularity and reducing plastic. 

Let your local member of Congress know that you support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021, called “the most comprehensive set of policy solutions to the plastic crisis ever introduced in Congress.”

How you can join CEC to fight back on plastic pollution

Thanks to your support CEC has successfully advocated for seven regional laws that limit distribution of single use plastic. Please stay in touch so you can support when we push for legislative and corporate solutions to the plastic crisis at the state and local level.

In partnership with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, has a “Skip the Stuff” campaign that asks regional restaurants to provide “stuff” like plastic cutlery, condiment packets, napkins and chopsticks only upon request. You can promote this program by distributing the print and social media collateral found here. 

We also divert film plastic from the landfill through our partnership with Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners & Launderers, with more than 19 tons upcycled to date. Find out more about how you can take part in our film plastic program.

You can take steps in your day-to-day life too. Here are a few of my favorite shifts – ones I’ve made in my own life:

• Shopping:

  • Bring reusable bags to EVERY store

  • Buy from plastic-free companies

• Dining:

  • Avoid bottled water and invest in a home bubbler for sparkling water

  • Ask coffee shops to pour into your personal cup

• Home Cleaning:

  • Buy powdered or tablet dishwasher and laundry detergent

  • Use vinegar (in glass jars) to clean most anything

• Personal Care:

  • Switch to bamboo toothbrushes, bar soap & shampoo, natural floss, and tablet-based toothpaste & mouthwash

All of our actions add up. Visit our Circular Economy page for more information. Together, we can move toward a circular economy, where we reimagine waste as a resource and drastically reduce emissions.