our plastic lives
we cannot recycle our way out of climate change.
in the future, when archeologists uncover the evidence of our modern civilization, one enduring material will be plastic. microplastics, the small particles left as plastic breaks apart and degrades, are found in our oceans, our food sources, and our bodies. increasingly, the discovery of even smaller particulates called “nanoplastics” are appearing in arterial tissues and increasing risk of heart attacks 2-to-1.
the following statistics are clear evidence of plastic’s heavy impact on the health of humans and our planet’s diverse ecosystems:
all plastic ever produced still exists, unless it’s been incinerated.
the world produces 440 tons of plastic every year, half of which is intended for single use only.
while the development of bio-based plastics and plastic-eating microbes offers hope of future benefits, how might we consume less altogether? we can start by ending single-use plastics.
