Our world is drowning in plastic. Yet this material has never been needed more. It all started in 1907, the beginning of the global plastic market. Bakelite (the first plastic) rapidly grew in production to the mass of two-thirds of the world population. Now plastic is in every corner of the globe, from the coasts of California, the streets of your city, and even deep in the Amazon. So what is plastic? What makes it so harmful to the environment? And what can you do to end plastic pollution and save some sea turtles? 

Plastic is a synthetic material composed of a wide range of polymers that can be molded into shapes while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. Plastics are known by trademarked names, Bakelite, Vinylite, or Lucite. 

PETE: Used in soft drink, juice, water, beer, mouthwash, peanut butter, salad dressing, detergent, and cleaner containers. 

DEHP: Plastic toys

HDPE: Opaque milk, water, and juice containers, bleach, detergent, and shampoo bottles, garbage bags, yogurt and margarine tubs, and cereal box liners. 

PVC: Used in toys, food, and beverage packaging, some squeeze bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles, shower curtains, medical tubing, and numerous construction products.

LDPE: Used in the grocery store, dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, most plastic wraps, and squeezable bottles. 

PP: Used in ketchup bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, medicine and syrup bottles, straws, and Rubbermaid and other opaque plastic containers, including baby bottles. 

PS: Used in Styrofoam containers, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, take-out food containers, plastic cutlery, and compact disc cases. 

Polycarbonate: Shatterproof windows, lightweight eyeglass lenses, and transparent materials. 

Other: This can include many newer plastics that have not yet been categorized by the U.S. based Society of the Plastics Industry. 

While many of these chemicals are hard to pronounce, few are inherently dangerous. It's how they are formed and disposed of that makes a difference to sea turtles and hundreds of other living organisms. Chemicals added to plastic assist in the shape, color, and durability of the plastic product. For instance, in PVC, commonly found in pipes and food/beverage containers, dioxins, phthalates, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, lead, and/or cadmium may be added. These chemicals can slowly leak into the food or beverage the container is storing and into our oceans. PVC can be detrimental to both our environment and our health. 

In addition to these dangerous chemicals that can affect our health and environment, discarded plastic can end up in nearly every corner of the globe when disposed of improperly. Plastics end up in one of three places: the landfill, the ocean, or the recycling. The last is the only option that can drastically reduce the product's environmental impact. 

Recycling is the best option for Earth. It's simple too! Make sure you set aside a bin in your home for recycling - even if your city doesn't offer a recycling program, you can find your ways to give plastic a second life. Whenever you use a plastic item like a bottle, make a conscious effort to recycle it. While it may be an extra thought or step, that simple action can help save tonnes of carbon and wildlife. If your city doesn't offer a recycling program, try being a bit more crafty! Convert your old bottles into plant pots, save your plastic bags for the next time you travel, and have fun creatively saving Earth.

Hey there! Below you can find the sources we used to research plastic pollution. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding these sources.

Our Sources

"Bakelite First Synthetic Plastic - National Historic Chemical Landmark - American Chemical Society." American Chemical Society, 20 Oct. 2020, https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/bakelite.html.

Dalmases, Francesc. "Joane: Plastic Is Killing Us in the Amazon." Pulitzer Center, 16 July 2019, https://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/joane-plastic-killing-us-amazon.

H., Charlie. "Benefits of Recycling | Light CO2." Light CO2, 8 Apr. 2020, https://www.lightco2.org/articles/benefits-of-recycling.

PVC: The Poison Plastic. https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/legacy/Global/usa/report/2009/4/pvc-the-poison-plastic.html. Accessed 20 Oct. 2020.

"Types of Plastic | Learn What Is Plastic Made Of & Different Types of Plastic - A&C Plastics." A&C Plastics, https://www.acplasticsinc.com/informationcenter/r/7-different-types-of-plastic-and-how-they-are-used. Accessed 20 Oct. 2020.