The next crisis is plastic

The world is choking on plastic. But it doesn't have to be like this.
In Busan this week the world has a chance to seriously tackle the plastics crisis. Here's how.

This film is supported by TILT Network.
The views and information presented in this film are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of TILT Network. TILT Network is not responsible for any actions or decisions made based on the content or information provided.

REFERENCES

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Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.

Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
Norm Zemke, David Mann, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Gary Stark, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, Peter Reid, bitreign33.

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[TheRhedNova]

Hey! I work in an Antarctic lab, and want to also add another reason to take this seriously: microplastics have been found in every. Single. Lake that our team has sampled in Antarctica. It's...really dire.

[Sythemn]

I hate that it's not even a choice anymore. I'm only 36 and I remember so many things coming from the grocery store in biodegradable containers as a child, and now I sometimes struggle to find even eggs in recycled paper packaging...

How the hell can "the market" fix the problem when it doesn't even provide an alternative in the first place?

[QT]

Private businesses repeatedly resisted fire regulations until people died and regulations were forced onto them. Private businesses repeatedly resisted mercury regulations until people died and regulations were forced onto them. Private businesses repeatedly resisted lead regulations until people died and regulations were forced onto them. Private businesses repeatedly resisted tobacco regulations until people died and regulations were forced onto them. Etc.

[dread-persephone]

I always hated how, instead of blaming the industry and big corporations, it's the individual's responsibility to make a change. Like asking an ant to clean up after itself while omitting the literal elephant in the room shitting all over the place.

[davidk]

I remember even back in the 80's hearing concerns about plastic in the environment. Nothing was done about it instead, plastic use exploded in the decades afterward.

[rebeccaboudreau]

We need laws because it’s been so hard for me to find 100% natural fiber clothes for the last 10 years.

[xXNekou]

Another part of this topic (that could be its own video) is clothes made from plastic - like polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylic - they shed microplastics every time you wash them (and they enter our water systems this way) but also shed microplastics when you wear them. And unfortunately these types of fabrics are cheaper to make so more and more brands use them instead of natural fibers (like cotton and linen). This links to fast fashion crisis we have which links to overconsumption and capitalism trap.

[xtieburn]

Ive been to countries that sell you glass bottled drinks at slightly more money, then pay you that money back when you return the bottles which are then stripped of label, cleaned, sterilized and directly reused. Ive always thought, if you standardised a bunch of packaging I dont see why you couldnt do this with so much more. All your liquids, probably a whole bunch of other things as well.

[CaperCafe_]

That intro packed a huge punch. I knew about the plastics at the bottom of the marina trench but I had never seen it before. It hits hard. Thank you for the video!

[lolmaker]

The unfortunate reality is that being environmentally friendly is expensive as an consumer. There have been times where I wanted to buy something that is a bit more environmentally friendly but just could not because I did not have the money for it. And for most people, whether they can afford it or not, money is the number one factor on what they decide to buy.

[kuroryuken]

I've discussed with friends and family, and have expressed I REALLY want a Single-Use Plastic Tax. Bring back Glass Bottles, and give Credit to collect and recycle them. Even if we have to use Plastic Bottle Caps on Glass to properly seal it, that reduces the waste by SO much.

[OldShatterham]

Some seem to forget the step before reuse and recycle... REDUCE

[waytooaverage]

God. I remember many, many years ago as an arrogant, contrarian 15 year old declaring to my French tutor something along the lines of "oh, I'm not worried about global warming, we know it's a problem and we're/they're already working on sorting it, the real problem once that's sorted is plastics in the environment."... I guess I was half right. That feels pretty bad.

[zachos-unpy]

that was more recycled plastic globally than i thought, i was thinking roughly 2%

[HHHjb_]

Using plastic in more permanent things feels fine, but in impermanent uses it feels bad
Ie my plastic wii remote has been in use for over a decade compared to the constantly disposed of water bottles

[clmdcc]

When taking about geological scale plastic pollution, it does remind me of when plants invented cellulose, it took millions of years for bacteria to figure out how to break it down, in the mean time a massive layer of now coal formed.

[AKIOTV]

Recently where I live disposable cups (not just plastic but also cardboard etc.) were banned in a lot of cases and some people got very annoyed at it. The number of times I've heard them use the argument "but when I use a throwaway cup I bin it properly so it doesn't pollute, and most people do, so this ban is pointless" is surprising. How many people don't even consider the idea that these cups actually need to get *made* shocked me. I mean, even if you don't give a crap about the environment, it's still insane that tons of materials, energy, man-hours and facilities are used just to make stuff that gets thrown away immediately after use.

[morgan]

I think there's a very important clarification that needs to be made with this. Single-use plastics is a crisis. Long-term sturdy plastics are less of a problem, they're easily recyclable and usually at a profit. Long-term plastics are often used to cut weight in everyday products like a keyboard or mouse which reduces emissions from transport. Long-term plastics are used in stuff like car bodies and for cup-holders which reduces the weight of your car and improves fuel efficiency. Single-use plastics for stuff that can instead be cardboard or paper should be changed.

[northernnaysayer]

As someone thats worked in plastic recycling, I can assure everyone, recycling is mostly bullsheet. We added virgin plastics and only really recycled plastic which were cut offs from the plastics we sent out because it was the only way we could guarentee they were the right type of plastic and wasnt going to cost a fortune if the wrong type of plastic ruined a roll or extrusion.

We should just limit packaging to 6 or so different packaging sizes, ban plastics and force everyone to go back to either paper or another grown medium. Plastics arnt needed, weve become far to reliant on them due to the corruption in the subsidy system. The fact the UK is still subsidising the petroleum industry is a tragedy and if our species survives another millenia, they will judge us harshly.

[Motionbuck]

I think Dr Breen said it best:
"Are all the accomplishments of humanity fated to be nothing more than a layer of broken, plastic shards thinly strewn across a fossil bed? Sandwiched between the Burgess shale and an eons worth of mud?"