Demystifying the truth behind plastics and sustainability

On this episode of the Borderless Executive Live, our host Andrew Kris is joined by Chris DeArmitt, President of Phantom Plastics, and the author of The Plastics Paradox: Facts for a Brighter Future.

What if everything we knew about plastics is wrong? What if the world isn’t facing a plastic crisis but rather a misinformation crisis? And what if decision-makers are making policies based on bad information that harms the environment and costs us billions of dollars each year?

In this episode, Chris and Andrew shed light on one of the most controversial topics in history by presenting us with the facts behind plastics and the real impact it has on the environment, as compared to other materials.

[FReal]

So much energy has been dessipated delivering the most spurious arguments about sustainability. Why is the world not looking the right direction. We blame plastic and leave the people who litter.

[andrewkris]

In summary:
“Plastics are not the problem, it’s the way we use them and dispose of them that’s the problem.”
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Focusing solely on eliminating plastic ignores the larger issue of sustainability in the use of all materials, including the highly polluting concrete industry.
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We’re focusing on plastics while ignoring bigger environmental issues like steel and concrete, which make up 80% of the problem.
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Proper scientific research involves reading everything you can find and deciding what to believe based on evidence, not just finding one piece of data that supports your beliefs.
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“It takes three or four pounds of other materials to replace one pound of plastic and you can measure that in your own kitchen weigh a plastic straw and weigh a paper straw or a metal straw. A plastic bag is six grams, a paper bag is 60 grams.”
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The latest study on polar bears shows no change in population, challenging the narrative of their decline due to plastic pollution.
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According to lifecycle analysis, the plastic straw is actually greener than the paper straw because it is lighter and cheaper.
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The true cause of litter is human behavior, not the materials or companies producing the products.