In April 2024, Coca-Cola, the largest beverage manufacturer in the world, launched an eye-catching campaign titled ‘Recycle Me’ in Latin America showing aluminium coke cans, (as opposed to their plastic bottles) being recycled. The manufacturer, which aims to make all of its packaging 100% recyclable by 2025, is one of the many consumer businesses who have touted recycling as the solution to the plastics pollution crisis.
The data, however, does not support this proposed solution, with less than 10% of the plastic produced making it to the recycling phase. Coca-Cola itself has failed to meet its recycling targets year after year, gaining the notorious title of the worst plastic polluter in the world. The plastics industry also fails to highlight one of the most important drawbacks of this ‘circular use of plastic’ through recycling: reports have shown plastic to be damaging for our health as it causes cancer, increases the risk of prematurity and stillbirth in children while also contributing to the spread of transmitted diseases like Malaria.
The Circular Use of Plastic:
A ‘circular economy’ is a sustainable model of production where products are kept in circulation within the market through recycling and reuse. Plastic, however, has been shown to be incompatible with this production system. Apart from doubts about plastic's recyclability, any toxic chemicals in its original composition can transfer onto the recycled plastics.
A report by Greenpeace, titled ‘Forever Toxic: The Science On Health Threats From Plastic Recycling’, presents the three pathways through which dangerous chemicals enter recycled plastic.
Firstly, it found that some of the toxic chemicals in the material do not break down during the recycling process, and so are passed along to the recycled product.
Secondly, toxic chemicals enter the recycling chain through pathways such as pesticide containers and cleaning solvents. Plastic can absorb these chemicals, leading to contamination.
Finally, new toxic chemicals can be generated during the recycling process when the plastic is heated up. This also presents a great health risk for future consumers.
A study conducted on recycled plastic pellets secured from various regions in the Global South found high concentrations of 162 biocides in the samples, among other hazardous items that make the plastic unsuitable to be reused. Additionally, a 2022 report produced by the Human Rights Watch detailed the adverse health problems faced by workers at recycling plants in Turkey. Workers developed health problems after inhaling toxic fumes and chemicals during the recycling process due to gases being released into the surrounding environment.
With recycled plastic products poisoning consumers, workers, as well as the environment, the benefits of the process have to be called into question over the potential harm it presents for human health and environment.
Are There Any Steps Being Taken?
Big plastic manufacturers strategically put the focus on recycling instead of cutting down on plastic production so that the onus of responsibility would fall on consumers. With the production of plastic waste set to almost triple by 2060 and around 9% recycled, it has become imperative for measures to be implemented that push industries to stop hiding behind recycling, and pledge to cut down on the production and usage of plastic altogether.
In 2022, UN member states adopted a resolution which called for a legally binding global treaty. The resolution aimed to address the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal.
Vested interests vigorously oppose the inclusion of production. Some of those in favour are pushing for a 40% cut in production by 2040 and Greenpeace is advocating for 75%.
The Global Plastics Treaty is scheduled to be agreed this year and has been going through five stages of negotiation, the last of which should be completed in Busan, Korea in November. A strong successful treaty should achieve a drastic reduction in plastic production.
The aim is to move away from focussing on making plastic a part of everyday life, spend time and resources to recycle such materials, and eventually phase them out, so that future generations can have healthier plastic-free lives.
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Images
man and girl with globe covered eyes - Image by ArtHouse Studio (ST ref: 1323)
plastic bottles recycling - Image by Hans (ST ref: 1130)
GPT INC2 Greenpeace projection - Image by Greenpeace Tokyo (ST ref: 1324)