Fact Check
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ARE WE DROWNING IN PLASTICS?
While we do use a lot of material, plastics are under 1% of materials we use either by weight or by volume. So, it is unjust to blame plastics in particular and ignore the other >99% of materials.
What about plastics in landfills?
EPA data shows that plastics make up ~13% of landfill contents, similar to paper. Furthermore, plastics are proven to reduce waste to landfill because 1lb of plastic replaces 3-4lb of paper, metal, glass etc..
Is there a floating island of plastic the size of Texas?
No – the idea of a floating island of plastic is false and was made up by the media. There are areas with more plastic but amounts are so low that you can swim through them and not even notice.
Is the ocean choking in plastic?
No – that idea came from an old disproven guess about ocean plastic, since refuted by decades of studies and millions of miles sailed. Actual amounts are low and constant.
Are plastics bad for the environment?
Life cycle studies agree that although materials do have an impact, replacing plastic with alternatives actually increases greenhouse gas and impact in over 90% of cases studied.
Do plastic alternatives reduce impact?
Do plastics take hundreds of years to degrade?
Plastics degrade at a similar speed to other carbon-based materials like leaves and wood. They degrade much faster than concrete, metal, glass and ceramics. A plastic bag degrades in less than a year outdoors, not centuries.
Do plastic items harm marine life?
Studies show that consumer items are very low in amounts and not causing a problem. What does cause significant harm is discarded fishing nets and we need regulation to put a stop to that. Ocean microplastics are “negligible” in concentration and have no effect.
But don’t plastics consume a lot of fossil fuel?
In fact, plastics manufacture consumes just 4-5% of fossil fuel whereas ~85% of oil is burnt. Furthermore, plastics actually save more than that amount by making vehicles lighter, preventing food damage & spoilage, plus plastic foam insulation prevents heat loss.
Should we move to degradable plastics and other degradables?
People want degradables so they can drop them on the floor and not feel guilty. When degradable material options are offered, that’s exactly what happens – litter increases substantially.
Does plastic recycling make sense or is it a scam?
Mechanical recycling of plastics really works, dramatically reducing the impact of plastic as well as lowering the demand for new plastic.
Do plastic straws harm sea turtles?
You may have seen a YouTube video on this subject but it was debunked. There was no evidence that it was a straw or that it was made of plastic. What harms turtles is shrimp trawling and discarded fishing nets.
Is it wise to ban plastic bags?
30 life cycle studies all agree that alternatives like paper, cotton or bioplastic actually increase impact. Banning plastic bags actually increases greenhouse gas, plus plastic sales increase.
Does plastic cause litter?
Scientists and the legal system conclude that litter is caused by people who drop items intentionally. That means that solutions that work involve encouraging people to act responsibly, e..g. through education, deposits and fines.
Aren’t plastics a part of “big oil”?
Plastics reduce oil consumption by making vehicles lighter, preventing food waste and insulating heat. So, if anything, “Big Oil” should be campaigning against plastics, not for them.
Do we really eat a credit card of plastic a week like the WWF claim?
Scientists checked that claim and found that microplastic amounts are so low that it would take over ten thousand years to eat that much plastic by accident. Plus, plastics are non-toxic anyway.
Should we worry about BPA coming from plastics?
The vast majority of plastics don’t even contain BPA. BPA exposure comes mainly from thermal paper and other sources and is too low to cause any health effect anyway.
What about phthalates from plastics?
Phthalates come from many sources including perfume, medications and toiletries. Most plastics do not contain phthalates and there is no evidence of a genuine problem in any case.
Are plastic materials toxic?
Decades of testing find that plastics are some of the safest materials we have. Studies show that even ingestion of large amounts of plastic has no effect.
Are microplastics toxic?
Plastic is a tiny fraction of dust so, ingested amounts are very low. Far from being a new untested material, 50 years of studies and the US FDA show no danger from microplastic particles.
Is it safe to put plastics in the microwave oven?
There is no evidence of any problem. Even baking PET bottles in the sun is not a problem. Rumors about this are likely spread by people wanting to sell glass and other kinds of cookware which costs far more and has no proven benefit. In fact, toxic metals leach from glass.
Should I be worried about microplastics in my body?
Particles moving around in the body has been known to scientists since the year 1844. Although it seems strange, all kinds of dust gets inside the body but we are built to deal with it as dust has been around since the beginning of time.
Do plastic bag bans really work?
Studies agree that banning plastic bags actually increases waste, greenhouse gas and impact. Ironically, bans increase the amount of plastic sold because people are forced to buy plastic trash can liners that are much thicker than the grocery bags we usually use.
What should we do about plastic pollution?
Scientists studied so-called “plastic pollution” and discovered that it was really just litter that had moved somewhere else. Recognizing that it is litter was important because solutions for that are education, deposits and fines.
Should we limit plastics production by treaty?
Scientist determined that limiting plastic production is not the answer and would actually increase environmental impact because people would be forced to use alternatives meaning more material used, more waste created and even more litter.
Do deposits on PET bottles really work?
Yes, studies conclusively proven that deposits on PET bottles greatly increase collection rates because they stop people from littering and incentivize collectors. In some regions, deposits are not needed because collection is already effective without them.
Are plastic drinking water pipes safe?
Decades of studies and testing to the NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standard show that plastic pipes including PE, PEX, PP and PVC are safe, plus they cause less impact than metal pipes and are cheaper. Attacks on plastic pipes are unfounded and funded by parties wanting to profit.
Do microplastics degrade?
Solid materials degrade faster and faster the smaller they get and plastics are no exception. So, contrary to public perception, microplastics do degrade and rapidly. Like other organic materials like trees and leaves, they degrade to form carbon dioxide and water.
Why are we against plastics if they aren’t really so bad?
IS REUSABLE PACKAGING THE ANSWER?
In theory, reusable packaging could reduce impact but in practice, it often increases impact. Reusable products require more material to be durable and unless they are reused enough times, the net effect is to increase materials use, waste and greenhouse gas. Grocery bags and PET bottles for carbonated drinks are two examples of reusable products that increase impact compared to single-use.
What about the circular economy?
Circularity is a beautiful concept. The diagram looks so clean with no waste generation. However, in reality, driving the circle takes huge amounts of energy and creates new waste streams. So, the circularity dream can quickly become a nightmare. We should focus on reducing impact by following life cycle studies, rather than chasing an abstract concept.
Are PET bottles for water and soda safe?
Yes, stringent testing and decades of data confirm that PET bottles are safe. Rumors to the contrary are likely funded by competing interests looking to gain market share through misinformation. Multiple life cycle studies agree that PET has least environmental impact too.
Is polystyrene foam bad for the environment?
Impact of materials depends on how much material is needed to get the job done. PS foam is ~98% air, so it is incredibly efficient and life cycle studies find that it has remarkably low impact because of it. PS foam aka Styrofoam™ reduces impact by protecting products from damage during transportation and insulates heat.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT PLASTICS
AND THE ENVIRONMENT?
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DO YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
The book Shattering the Plastics Illusion: Exposing Environmental Myths has the full story including comprehensive peer-reviewed science. Best of all it is provided free of charge and endorsed by the Plastics Research Council and other professional scientists from all over the world.
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The Plastics Research Council is committed to making sure people see the science because at the moment people are making bad choices and bad policies based on fiction. But we can’t do it alone. We’re up against a misinformation campaign that has millions in funding. If you’re tired of the nonsense and want to fight back, then contact us to make a difference.