Planet vs Plastic: Earth Suffocates; Looming Health Hazards Demand Immediate Response

As per a study estimate, humans are consuming 39,000 to 52,000 microplastics per year depending on age and sex. Microplatics have also been found in human blood for the first time. After Shanghai in China, Patna in Bihar reported microplastics in rainwater. “Plasticenta” - a buzz word has been making rounds across the globe with scientists identifying microplstic particles in placenta of unborn babies. These reports serve as stark warnings, signaling that we are teetering on the edge of a catastrophic event with the potential to imperil humanity in myriad ways. However, the irony is, plastic has become an integral part of our lifestyle today. From the milk we consume to the water we drink, from ice-creams to toys, from food grains to eatables, plastic has taken over our lives in every form. And we have adopted a lifestyle that can’t sustain without plastic products. But, as they say, everything comes at a cost, and this time it’s life – human, animals, birds, mammals, every form of life on this planet.

We have been consuming and discarding plastics with no consideration to our ecosystem, however, as they say - what goes around, comes around. And now it’s our turn. Sitting at this crucial juncture, the question is - Can we afford to turn a blind eye to an inevitable threat anymore that’s going to cost millions of lives in no time? The answer is a big No. We have allowed it to go unchecked for years and now it’s choking the ecosystem, seeping into the very fabric of our existence.

In accord with the mounting issue that has gone unnoticed and unchecked for years, this year’s theme for the Earth Day was "Planet vs Plastics". It’s high time that we take it not as a mere theme but a clarion call to action that demands a concerted effort from the global community. 

Data speaks – Polluting land, oceans and air

Globally, around 400 million tons of plastic is produced annually which eventually ends up in either landfills or oceans. Going by the current growth pattern, global primary plastic production is projected to be 1,100 million tons by 2050, with about 36% of plastics being utilized in packaging, including single-use items for food and beverage containers, the majority of which (approximately 85%) ends up in landfills or unregulated waste streams. Furthermore, nearly 98% of single-use plastic products derive from fossil fuels, or "virgin" feedstock. According to some estimates, greenhouse gas emissions linked to the production, usage, and disposal of traditional fossil fuel-based plastics are set to rise to 19% of the global carbon budget by 2040. With this, global plastic consumption is estimated to nearly triple by 2060.

Plastic pollution has reached alarming levels, with 79% accumulating in landfills or natural environments, 8 million tons entering oceans annually. Approximately 10 billion plastic bags are used worldwide weekly. As per an estimate, the oceans may contain more plastic than fish by 2050, leading to over 270 marine species facing ingestion, entanglement, and chemical contamination, with an estimated 99% of seabirds expected to ingest plastic within the next 30 years.

While some countries have a little streamlined plastic waste management system, many are dealing with the challenge in an uncontrolled manner. For instance, in the sub-Sahara Africa region, plastic waste equal to a football pitch is openly dumped or incinerated every minute. This shows the lack of capacity to handle and manage the soaring demand for plastic.

What corporates can do?

Many countries don’t have a robust infrastructure, however, if we cut it at the production level, the problem can be solved in a long run. If corporates shift from plastic production to more sustainable materials and plan to re-purchase the sold plastics and come up with innovative solutions to put it back into the consumption cycle, we will be able to avoid the intensity of the crisis.

Firms can also invest in providing drinking water solutions at the public places which will reduce the consumption of bottled water. Corporates need to lead by example by aggressively training their workforce about environmental sustainability and executing sustainability practices at the organizational level.  

Sabre team, for instance, takes a small yet significant step in this regard. As told by Tess Longfield, Principal, Corporate Responsibility & ESG, Sabre Corporation, the team members engage in “plogging” (combining jogging with litter picking) and collected 3,199 pieces of rubbish, weighing a total 200kg as part of its Give Together initiative last year.

The importance of reducing plastic use in the wider travel industry with initiatives like “ is also praiseworthy as it aims to tackle the single-use plastic problem in the hospitality industry. 

Solutions for Plastic Industry

So, what could be the solutions? As per experts, below are the few ways to reduce plastic from our lives:

• A tax system that reflects the environmental impact of plastics and plastic products.
• Encouraging the use of eco-friendly materials and production processes through financial incentives.
• Penalizing high-impact plastics to promote sustainable alternatives.
• Providing financial support to research institutions and businesses focusing on developing sustainable alternatives to plastics.
• Encouraging innovation in recycling technologies, biodegradable materials, and waste management solutions.
• Stimulating the growth of a green economy by investing in sustainable practices and technologies.
• Encouraging extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs that promote recycling, reuse, and proper disposal of plastic waste.
• Creating a circular economy model where producers take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle.

Further, we need more examples like Sabre and Jindal Stainless Steel. Hundreds of employees of India’s largest stainless steel producer, Jindal Stainless, participate in a plastic waste collection drive conducted across the corporate office and manufacturing plants in Hisar and Jajpur, and collect over 2 tons of plastic waste every year. This initiative shows the company’s continued focus responsible waste management practices and the reduction of plastic waste.

Plastics for Change is another such organization that’s working to address the plastic waste. It was founded in 2015 and aims to establish the first fair trade verified recycled plastic platform. By linking waste pickers with scrap merchants, it transforms discarded plastic into high-quality recycled packaging. This initiative not only safeguards the environment but also provides a steady income and dignity to some of the 2 million waste pickers in India. Since 2019, Plastics for Change has provided 1,794 tons of recycled plastic to the Body Shop and are suppliers to other prominent cosmetics brands like L’Oréal, Mac, Estée Lauder, Colgate, and Ocean Bottle.

No one can deny the facts that as a community we aren’t doing anything to handle the inevitable aftermaths of plastic pollution, however, the action is limited to certain regions only. For instance, across the Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, plastic bags have been banned and the intervention to further expand the ban is underway, while in South and North America there is a serious lack of any intervention. Many states in India too have banned plastic bags, however, the practice is not followed widely across the nation due to its economic implications, political will and consumer behavior.      

More aggressive campaigns needed

More campaigns like Plastic Free July, New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, Global Partnership on Marine Litter, and Global Tourism Plastics Initiative are needed where scientists, environmentalists, civil society, citizens and governments must come together and play their part in ensuring their effectiveness of these schemes and programmes.

Furthermore, to ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives, it has to reach at deeper levels in the society also. It has to begin from schools and institutions. A greater interest has to be invoked in the students from an early age which can prompt them to take up subjects like sustainability, carbon-neutrality, net-zero emissions, healthy ecosystem, plastic and pollution-free environment so that more environmentalists and scientists can be produced. A better and robust infrastructure with job creations will also attract new talent pool towards sustainability.

In this regard, Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA) has set a good example with its Expeditions programme that encourages students to travel to successfully pursue their passions and establish a bond with the nature. Radhika Sinha, Principal, Aditya Birla World Academy says, “We have designed this program so that students can successfully explore outdoor activities and develop close and intimate connections with nature. The primary aim is to empower students to develop life skills and holistically appreciate mother-nature. ABWA gives unrivalled importance to expeditions for students.”

India’s premiere institutions, IITs have also started executing plans in this direction with the launch of some courses on sustainability. IIT Hyderabad has announced a masters and PHD in sustainability. IIT Madras Kanpur have also started Schools of sustainability. These examples must be followed by all academic institutions rapidly so as to bring that fundamental change at the deepest levels in the society. Moving further, to speed up the process, subjects pertaining to sustainability can be made mandatory by the schools.

What governments can do - Investment and Incentives

More investments have to pour in for corporates, NGOs and organizations that are working for the damage control against plastic pollution. Education and global healthcare are of course priority areas, however, plastic waste management has to be prioritized as well before we run out of time.

At the policy levels, governments have to come up with stringent processes and mechanisms to ensure heavy penalties to the defaulters – corporates and individuals both. Enforce the policies if needed. While on the other hand, incentivize the contributors.  

A highlight here is what the European Union is doing. EU has launched a commendable policy related to plastic packaging. It has embraced Circular Economy packaging, encompassing initiatives such as formulating a strategy for plastics within the circular economy, aiming to elevate plastic packaging recycling to 55%, setting a binding target to limit landfill to 10% of total waste by 2030, and implementing a comprehensive prohibition on landfilling separately collected waste.

Except for Iceland, all Nordic countries have container deposit schemes in operation. Similar schemes are implemented in the United States, where the national recycling rate stands at 34%, whereas states with container deposit laws boast an average rate of 70%. Michigan holds the highest deposit amount nationwide at USD 0.10, coinciding with its impressive recycling rate of 95% as of 2013.

In addition, examples of glitter ban coming into force in EU and the plan to further crackdown on other micropastics in EU are noteworthy. The aim is to cut plastic pallet (Used in plastic products) pollution by 74% by the end of the decade. 

Solutions for Disposal of Plastics

What consumers can do against this fight?

Though recycling and reusing the plastics will solve the problem to an extent, it still won’t be able to address the global challenge at large. 

Multi-faceted solutions for a multi-faceted problem – CIE model 

Given the magnitude of crisis we are dealing with, the solutions have to be multi-faceted. We have to collectively work on CIE (Circulate, Innovate and Eliminate) model to tackle the plastic menace. The Circulate approach drives through the idea of keeping the plastic waste in the economy and prevents it from going into the environment.

Project MainStream, a global, multi-industry initiative aims to accelerate business-driven innovations to help scale the circular economy, advocates the same solution. Natch Snacks is also working in line with the Circulate approach with its sponsorship of Recircles' monthly plastic-neutral drive. Through this initiative, they collect plastic waste directly from households, effectively diverting it from landfills and waterways. The company is also dedicated to empowering waste picker communities by guaranteeing fair wages, enhancing working conditions, and providing access to valuable skill development programs. 

“By diverting low-value plastic away from landfills and water bodies, this program will have a significant and far-reaching positive impact on the environment, society, and governance (ESG) landscape and promote responsible waste management practices throughout India,” says Matthew Taff, founder of Natch Snacks.

Secondly, the “I” in CIE approach stands for Innovation. Individuals and businesses have to take steps to ensure that plastic waste is reusable, recyclable and compostable. It has to be a constant effort to integrate new technologies to solve this crucial challenge. Monika Walia, Head - Corporate Social Responsibility, GlobalLogic is of the same opinion. She says, “Technological advancements in clean energy, storage, and materials offer promise for sustainable development. Adopting practices like 3R’s (Reduce, reuse, recyle) would go a long way to support the conservation efforts.  Every step taken is a ray of hope and a promise to future generations for a better world for them to thrive.”

And ultimately, we have to eliminate plastic from the entire value chain. The elimination of plastics, of course, has to be done in a phased manner. We can’t be in a denial mode anymore and continue to passing on the buck - whether the consumer is responsible for this or the producer. As the plastic pollution affects everyone adversely, it’s a shared responsibility to act upon.  

Solutions for Households & Companies

Drive it through Innovation, Tech and Research

For the last 4-5 decades, the chemical industry has been doing business with the motto - let’s make chemicals, let’s make materials, put them to use in the market and then clean the mess 20, or 30 years later. But is it a sustainable way? No. We have to come up with safer and sustainable materials and designs. Can we derive materials from food waste as part of the circular economy and turn them into useful materials that we can use to address this problem?

Embassy Group sets a good example when it comes to driving solution to the increasing plastic waste management through tech. In collaboration with the Anonymous Indian Charitable Trust (TAICT), the firm runs EcoGram programme to address the irresponsible disposal of waste and environmental degradation in Bettahalasuru Panchayat, North Bengaluru. The area faced significant pollution issues, with 53 metric tons of waste being irresponsibly disposed of each month.

“To promote sustainable living practices and community engagement, we introduced the EcoGram initiative, striving to establish a replicable, environmentally friendly model gram panchayat. The programme now encompasses ten villages in the Bettalasuru Panchayat. Embassy built the EcoHub in 2022, which is an integrated solid waste management centre that benefits over 4,000 households. The company also recycles over 100 tonnes of wet waste that is generated every month and converts it to over 30 tonnes of compost through vermicomposting and OWCs, “ says Shaina Ganapathy.  

Acuity’s way of finding solution to the plastic pollution also coincides with that of Embassy Group. Parul Dhir, who is Director- Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) and Employee Engagement says, “At Acuity we focus on environmental solutions that are innovative in nature. The power of technological innovation combined with supportive policies and investment is the key. Collaboration between public and private sectors can drive significant progress. By learning from the success stories, we can replicate their winning formula. Investing in green technologies, creating supportive policies, and engaging market forces are all keys to accelerating positive environmental change. This year we have plans to design specific programs focusing on reducing use of plastic by promoting widespread public awareness of the damage done by plastic to human, animal, and all biodiversity’s health."

Innovation and research has to be put at the core of the problem-solving. Governments should invest more in research and encourage corporates to set up systems in place to curb the menace. Subsidies and incentives will add icing to the cake. 

Mindsprint empowers global organizations to adapt to tomorrow's ever-changing needs and build sustainable technology solutions that help organizations fulfill ESG goals by tracking 150+ metrics across the supply chain and measuring carbon footprint linked to the UN SDGs.

“Our traceability solution enhances supply chain transparency by empowering customers with the ability to track the origin of raw materials like cocoa. This technology-driven solution supports sustainable sourcing and responsible environmental practices. It delivers critical data and insights, allowing businesses to pinpoint inefficiencies, refine processes, and improve overall operations. The result is heightened productivity, minimized waste, and significant cost reductions. Through our suite of technology solutions, businesses gain crucial commercial insights, fostering data-driven decision-making, prioritizing material impact areas and driving positive actions on environmental and sustainability metrics across the supply chain,” says Siddharth Satpute, Head of Industry Solutions, MINDSPRINT.

Scientists have found a way for cleaning oceans of the plastic waste also. They have designed a tiny robot-fish that is programmed to remove microplastics from seas and oceans by swimming around and adsorbing them on its soft, flexible, self-healing body. Furthermore, researchers are advocating for nanotechnology to be the problem-solver in the fight against microplastics. To tackle the micro, the micro will be more efficient. Nanotechnology carries a huge potential to expand the circular economy.

Global negotiations and collaborations

We live in a global village today. Each country is dependent on the others for resources. What happens in a country affects many others. The idea of business practices not impacting any other nation is a passe now. What happens in Ukraine and Russia, impacts India heavily. The world economy is impacted. Thus, for the global good, global collaborations are a must. 

We have seen reservations from countries against the idea of scaling down the plastic production. Earlier, the Oil producing nations were advocating for waste management (Not willing to cut down on plastic production) as 98% of the single use plastic is made from fossil fuels, and the top seven plastic-producing companies are fossil fuel companies. However, lately these countries have realized the relevance of cutting down the plastic production before it’s too late.

Cut to 2024, around 175 nations have agreed to develop a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution by 2024. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal. In other words, it addresses the whole lifecycle of the plastics.

Shaina Ganapathy, Head - Community Outreach Initiatives for Embassy Group opines, “We strongly believe that collaboration is the key to revitalising our environment and transitioning to a green economy for all. We aim to share with other businesses our learnings to create a culture of coherence and corporate sustainability to deepen our collective efforts towards saving our planet. Our agenda is to join hands with other corporate, government bodies, and NGOs to create a culture of collaboration and corporate sustainability.”

Governments, civil society, corporates, policy makers and all stakeholders must engage vibrantly in solidifying more collaborations that will ensure the wellbeing of our planet and eventually of all beings. We need a vibrant movement at the grassroots level. 

Why Elimination is the ultimate solution?

According to a report by the World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Asia is responsible for over 80% of the total plastic leakage into the oceans, and the United States, Europe and Asia collectively produce 85% of the total plastics. However, around 95% of the top 20 plastic manufacturing companies are headquartered in the US and Europe. Moreover, these two continents alone house headquarters of over 85% of the top 20 FMCG companies. As per the researchers of a non-profit, The 5 Gyres Institute, only 60 multinationals are responsible for over half of the plastic pollution on this planet.

The researchers, who collected and studied nearly 18,70,000 items of plastic waste over a period of 5 years across 84 countries found that for every percentage of increase in plastic production, there was an equal amount of plastic pollution. The report even highlights top 5 worst polluters – the Coca-Cola (11%), PepsiCo (5%), Nestlé (3%), Danone (3%), and Altria (2%), which is 25% of the branded plastic waste. Corporates can’t continue producing plastics and polluting the ecosystem at this rate. To curb the damage being done, elimination is the ultimate solution for the planetary health. The need of the hour is to shift towards a new plastics economy.

We understand that plastics can’t be immediately eliminated from the earth; we need to do it in a phased manner, however, it has to be done with a great speed and at the production level gradually. Greenpeace USA’s global plastic projects leader Graham Forbes’ thoughts sync with the idea. He was recently quoted sharing in a sustainability forum, “You cannot solve the pollution crisis unless you constrain, reduce and restrict plastic production.”

We have the likes of the Embassy Group that’s focused on achieving harmony between business practices and nature, in line with this year’s theme of 'Planet vs. Plastics.' “We're actively implementing eco-conscious measures such as embracing reusable water bottles and coffee cups, minimising single-use plastics and packaging, and embracing green transportation solutions. The idea is to help individuals understand how adopting a simple change in one’s life can have a huge positive impact on the natural environment,” says Shaina Ganapathy, Head - Community Outreach Initiatives, Embassy Group.

What’s the way forward?

While many assume that all recycled materials are reused, the reality is different. Most recycled materials, except for glass, often don't get reused due to factors like poor quality or cost. Recycling also requires energy and emits emissions, especially during transportation and processing. Despite the common belief that recycling saves natural resources, it's not always the case; sometimes, recycling consumes more energy and emits more greenhouse gases than using new materials. Improving recycling methods remains crucial for resource and energy conservation, alongside adopting innovative solutions like electrostatic faucets for home water conservation. There are plastic polymer groups that define which of the plastics are recyclable - plastics with low quality, chemical properties, brand label plastics can’t be recycled.

Globally negotiations are on, however, business community, civil society and policy makers are at loggerheads with different views. While the likes of Dow Inc. CEO Jim Fitterling advocate the importance of plastics to the modern world in medical products, preserving food and renewable technologies, others like the group of 66 countries in the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution are emphasizing for limiting plastic consumption and production. On one hand, businesses are of the view to address the problem through high-performance plastic designs that use fewer raw materials while maximizing durability, reusability and recyclability and by promoting smarter design standards and setting recycled content requirements so that waste can be more easily sorted, recycled and put back into use. On the flipside, environmentalists, civil society and scientists are pushing to cut the plastics at the production level. 

Effective measures to combat plastic pollution emphasize the reduction of plastic production rather than solely focusing on recycling. Critics argue that relying solely on recycling is inadequate due to limitations such as the inability to recycle all petrochemicals, insufficient recycling infrastructure, and persistent environmental leakage. Additionally, chemical recycling, which transforms polymeric waste into usable raw materials, has been found to generate significant toxic waste and emissions, posing substantial risks to human health. Thus, robust negotiations and policies are essential for addressing the root causes of plastic pollution.

Then there's another aspect of plastics that's detrimental to health. Pamela Miller, executive director and senior scientist at Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) and co-chair of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) believes that the harmful ecological effects of plastics are compounded by the numerous chemicals they contain, many of which pose health risks to humans, including increased cancer risks and endocrine disruptions. A report in 2024 highlights over 16,000 plastic chemicals, with 25% deemed hazardous and 66% not evaluated for safety. Consequently, no plastic chemical can be deemed safe.

Richard Thompson, Professor of Marine Biology, University of Plymouth, who coined the term "Microplastics" on May 7, 2004 describes fragments of plastic measuring as small as a millionth of a metre. He believes that to reduce the grip of plastic pollution on our planet, regulators, governments and citizens all urgently need to turn off the tide of plastic pollution at its source by reducing the production of plastics.

The recently wrapped UN global plastics treaty negotiations in Ottawa, Canada saw a complete lack of consensus among nations about how to address this global problem. It's disheartening that 180 nations struggled to reach an agreement on the path ahead. The negotiations fell short of ensuring the inclusion of independent scientists in formal expert working groups. We are divided as per the business interests and economic gains. We are divided as per the rules and regulations on plastic production, recycling and reduction. We are divided based on the technological interventions and funds used in different countries. However, we must remember that action on plastic pollution can't wait for consensus.