McVeigh, K. (2020, December 16). ‘We’re getting europe’s WASTE?’ US hit by plastic Debris lost from UK ship. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/16/were-getting-europes-waste-us-hit-by-plastic-debris-lost-from-uk-ship

In the process of transporting a 10,000 tonne shipment of plastic waste from the UK, the shipment fell into the sea and washed ashore in Maine. This debris could have harmful impacts on wildlife in a bay in Maine, which contains a very old lobster fishery. There has been a crew deployed to clean up the waste from the shores. Conservationists are upset that there were not preventative measures in place to stop this from happening. There is general annoyance that this was not U.S. waste, and it is polluting our coasts. This incident represents just a small portion of the problem, as 1300 containers are lost at sea on average each year.

It is disappointing that plastic waste is now discarded on the shores and in the ocean that could have been avoided. There should be more measures taken to prevent spillages like these, because there is already too much plastic pollution in our oceans. However, I think it is ironic that there is outrage about the effects on Maine’s lobster fisheries, because fisheries like those contribute heavily to ocean pollution. There should be more focus on the effects of marine life and less on the fishery. I was astounded that 1300 containers of waste are lost at sea each year, which is pollution that is easily preventable. 

Lewis, S. (2020, November 19). A decade of plastic has entangled, choked and drowned over 1,500 endangered marine mammals in U.S. Waters, new report finds. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plastic-pollution-entangle-choke-endangered-marine-mammals-oceana-report/

Almost 1800 endangered animals have been entangled in or have consumed plastics since 2009. Researchers say that this estimate is a minimum and that things are only projected to get worse. In fact, plastic production is expected to quadruple in the next few decades, increasing the amount of plastic in ocean waters. Oceana’s report on plastics’ effect on marine life revealed that 90% of the animals observed had consumed plastic. This consumption can lead to malnutrition, drowning, choking, or infections. Oceana urged the government to take action and for companies to offer plastic-free alternatives for their customers.

This statistic was shocking and devastating because these animals are already endangered. We have put them in endangerment through our destruction of their habitats and through other harmful practices, but we still continue to harm them with plastics. Although it would be difficult to remove all the plastics from the oceans, because there are so many, we must do our best to stop plastic production and stop discarding our plastics in the ocean. I thought it was valuable that Oceana, after conducting their research, used their findings to urge change in companies and in the government. 

Shrestha, P. (2021, February 16). US industry GIANTS pledge to cut plastic pollution in new pact. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.energylivenews.com/2020/08/26/us-industry-giants-pledge-to-cut-plastic-pollution-in-new-pact/

Major businesses in the U.S. have agreed to sign a plastic pact to move towards a circular economy for plastic. These businesses include Colgate, L’Oreal, Mars, and The Coca-Cola Company, and over 60 businesses have agreed overall. The goals are to designate certain plastic packaging as unnecessary and take measures to eliminate these by 2025. Additionally, in the next five years, they aim to make all plastic packaging 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Finally, they hope that by 2025, 30% of plastic packaging is made of recycled materials or bio-based. This agreement follows a similar one made in the UK in April of 2018. 

This Plastics Pact is very hopeful news, and could demonstrate a big step forward against wasteful single-use plastic packaging. It is admirable that these big companies are making this promise, because they set an example for the rest of the country and the world. However, making these goals is only the first step. The more important part is that these companies follow through and continue to strive for less plastic and less waste. Perhaps, once these 60 businesses complete this goal, it will show every other business that environmentally-friendly operations are possible and available. In this way, other companies will follow suit. 

Rice, D. (2020, November 20). ‘Real EYE-OPENER’: Microplastic pollution discovered in snow near top of Mount Everest. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/20/mount-everest-microplastic-pollution-discovered/6342235002/

Microplastic pollution has been discovered in the snow near the top of Mount Everest. They were found in samples of snow from National Geographic. The majority of these microplastics discovered were fibrous. This means they were most likely from performance clothing and gear used by hikers or were carried from lower altitudes on the wind. These are the highest microplastics discovered so far.

Generally, Mount Everest is considered to be a remote, pure, and pristine location, so the discovery of these microplastics here represents just how far human pollution has reached. Microplastics have already been found in the depths of our oceans, and now in the highest peaks of the mountains. This invisible form of pollution is still harmful and can be found in nearly everything, from our food to our oceans to, now, Mount Everest. It shows the severity of human impact on the Earth and the extent of our plastic pollution. 

Parker, L. (2021, February 10). U.S. generates more plastic trash than any other nation, report finds. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/us-plastic-pollution

While former President Trump promised to “continue to do everything I can to stop other nations from making our oceans into their landfills”, the U.S. was found to be the world’s largest generator of plastic waste by far. We produced 42 million metric tonnes of waste in 2016, in comparison to India’s 26 million, the second largest contributor. Meanwhile, many top industry leaders continued to view plastic pollution as an “Asian issue”. Overall, the U.S. generated 17% of the world’s plastic waste, despite making up just 4% of the population.

The facts of this article were humiliating to read, not only because of the insane amount of plastic pollution coming from the U.S., but also because of the horrible anti-Asian narrative. In blaming Asia for plastic pollution, we are distancing ourselves from the problem and living in denial that we are not the largest contributor to plastic waste. Moving forward, it is crucial to recognize this fact and begin to take action against it. We are just one country and are producing 42 million metric tonnes of plastic. In conjunction with the whole globe, there is an absurd amount of plastic being discarded every year that needs to be slowed. The irony of former President Trump’s statement is that we are making other nations our landfills by shipping off our waste to other countries, instead of them doing this to us. Our plastic pollution and the narrative that it is not our issue needs to stop in order to face the immense issue of pollution.

Schwartz, J. (2020, June 15). Where are the airborne plastics? Scientists find they are in the air we breath, the wind and the skies- Technology News, Firstpost. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/where-are-the-airborne-plastics-scientists-find-they-are-in-the-air-we-breath-the-wind-and-the-skies-8484791.html

According to a new study, over 1000 tons of plastic fragments each year rain down on the wilderness areas of the American West alone. The researchers found microplastics in 98% of the samples, and they made up 4% of the dust particles. The particles move through the air with wind currents, rain, and snow. They originate from textiles in clothing or outdoor gear like tents. This is dangerous not only for the environment but also because inhaling these microplastics can lead to lung disease and tissue damage. 

Although it is absurd sounding, I am not surprised at the notion of airborne plastic pollution. Microplastics have already infiltrated the oceans and even the food chains, so it makes sense that they would pollute our air as well. Microplastics in general are a huge threat to the environment in many ways even though they are often overlooked. Many people do not think about the shedding of microplastics when they wash their clothing for example but these plastics enter the water systems. The problem of microplastic air pollution seems like one that could easily slip under the radar. These plastics could accumulate until they pose a very serious threat to everyone. 

Aravind, I. (2020, October 24). Another pandemic: India’s fight against single-use plastic falls victim to Covid. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/another-pandemic-indias-fight-against-single-use-plastic-falls-victim-to-covid/articleshow/78848847.cms

Although India planned to ban single-use plastics by 2022, and had begun the process of phasing them out, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused them to halt this process. Necessary PPE and disposable containers to prevent the spread of the virus have increased the plastic use by tremendous amounts, about a 47% spike in usage. The country will be forced to postpone its plan for getting rid of single-use plastics, even though many states had already created the legislation to enable the process. Environmentalists say that there needs to be a concrete plan for the phasing out of these plastics.

It is unfortunate that as we come to the point where more and more people are environmentally aware, the pandemic has set back a lot of the efforts against plastic. There are so many disposable items that are required or recommended for keeping yourself safe from the pandemic, and the quick switch to life under the virus did not give people much time to look for sustainable alternatives. Also, because people viewed the pandemic a temporary situation for so long they may have been more okay with using disposable equipment. Hopefully India can get its plan back on track even if it is postponed a little, and that people will not get comfortable with the excess use of single-use plastics.

Briggs, H. (2020, October 14). Glitter litter ‘could be damaging rivers’. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54545669

Researchers have found out more about the harmful effects of glitter (even biodegradable alternatives) on the environment. All types of glitter effected plant and algae growth in laboratory tests. Scientists collected samples and applied six different types of glitter to each miniature pond, all of which decreased the growth of algae and plants like duckweed. Additionally, the impacts of these glitters can be seen on plants and snails within 36 days, and there could be even more consequences long term.

This article really revealed how we can contribute to plastic pollution and the destruction of ecosystems even with the smallest actions. One wouldn’t usually point to glitter as the culprit of plastic pollution, but it plays a part in contributing to microplastic pollution. It makes me wonder what other microplastics we discard regularly without thinking about. One that I can think of is the beads in exfoliants which have now been switched to biodegradable for the most part. There are likely many other small contributors to plastic pollution that we may not consider. 

Barr, S. (2019, October 23). Huggies to eliminate plastic from baby wipe range in UK. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/huggies-plastic-baby-wipes-waste-environment-sustainable-eco-friendly-uk-a9167456.html

Huggies announced plans to completely eliminate plastic from their baby wipes within the next five years even though it is the first leading baby wipe brand to make a promise like this. The vice-president of the company that owns Huggies said that they won’t stop until they find a fully sustainable solution. However, only about a third of parents said it was important for the wipes they purchase to be environmentally friendly even though four out of five parents say they are concerned about the environmental impact of their wipes. This commitment by Huggies is only applicable the UK, but is planned to be implemented in the next five years.

I think that this commitment is a valiant one, especially since Huggies is the only one making this promise for now. Although there are more sustainable companies and methods, this shows how even though there are options it is often the responsibility of the companies to make the effort. Although the customers said that the environmental impact concerned them, they did not make the switch. Consumers will most often gravitate heavily towards the cheap and available often even if it is not the most sustainable. Hopefully other baby wipe brands will follow suit and this will expand to other countries as well. 

Duncan, C. (2020, October 20). Up to one million tonnes of ‘deadly’ fishing gear left in ocean each year, WWF warns. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/ghost-fishing-gear-marine-wildlife-wwf-plastic-pollution-ocean-b1162321.html

At least ten percent of marine litter is made up of lost, abandoned, or broken fishing gear. This is also the most deadly to marine wildlife and up to one million tons of this fishing gear is lost every year. The WWF has begun to address this problem, and called leaders from 40 different countries to support a UN treaty on marine plastic pollution. Sometimes the gear is discarded to conceal illegal fishing activities. The study by Greenpeace Germany that found that 10 percent of the marine pollution is from this gear called for more international action against plastic pollution, calling for an agreement “to protect at least 30 per cent of the world’s oceans by 2030 from harmful human activities”. The WWF has called for fishing gear to have marks designating to their owners, so the gear can be identified and held accountable for. 

This article was really eye-opening to the dangers of fishing pollution. I have often heard about the harmful activities from the fishing industry, but I never knew that they contributed so much to plastic pollution by discarding this fishing equipment. I found it especially interesting that it is often in order to conceal illegal fishing. Much of this fishing is probably illegal because of how it harms the environment, so it is ironic that this is the cause of the plastic pollution. I wonder how this can be solved, perhaps instead of making the fishing illegal, the markets can be targeted. If the products are decreased in price, the fishers will have less incentive to fish illegally.