Problem Encountered with Plastics/Polymers
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Ends Up In The Ocean. - Since so much more is plastic, and not organic, it is directly affecting
marine life in the ocean including fish, a popular main source of food for humans.
ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS - many chemical additives that give plastic products desirable
performance properties also have negative environmental and human health effects.
Harm to Wildlife - Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other
marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been
affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics.
LANDFILL ACCUMULATION - Even beyond their persistence in oceans and water pollution from
their production, synthetic polymers are a significant challenge on land because they are often
disposed of in landfills where they will remain for centuries into the future slowly leaking toxins
into soil as time passes.
Plastic Problem in Construction- Construction is the second largest producer of single use
plastics in the UK, beaten only by the packaging industry. Every day, on construction sites all
over the world, plastic waste is generated from a huge number of activities and far too little of it
is recycled.
Ends Up In The Ocean
Since so much more is plastic, and not organic, it is directly affecting marine life in the ocean including
fish, a popular main source of food for humans. Regularly, our society is so fixated on making our lives
more convenient in the short term, however, in the long run, our own health and the health of marine life
are at the expense of these conveniences. It should be noted that 8 MILLION METRIC TONS of plastic
winds up in our oceans each year. That’s enough to cover every foot of coastline around the world with
five full trash bags of plastic, and compounded each year.
ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS
Many chemical additives that give plastic products desirable performance properties also have
negative environmental and human health effects. People are exposed to these chemicals not only during
manufacturing, but also by using plastic packages, because some chemicals migrate from the plastic
packaging to the foods they contain. These effects include:
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Direct toxicity, as in the cases of lead, cadmium, and mercury
Carcinogens, as in the case of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
Endocrine disruption, which can lead to cancers, birth defects, immune system suppression
and developmental problems in children.
Harm to wildlife
Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms.
Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every
species of seabird eats plastics.
Most of the deaths to animals are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles,
and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Micro plastics have
been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner
plates. In many cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system and are expelled without
consequence. But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or pierced organs, causing
death. Stomachs so packed with plastics reduce the urge to eat, causing starvation.
Landfill Accumulation
Even beyond their persistence in oceans and water pollution from their production, synthetic
polymers are a significant challenge on land because they are often disposed of in landfills where they will
remain for centuries into the future slowly leaking toxins into soil as time passes. According to the Clean
Air Council organization, Americans alone use an estimated 102.1 billion plastic bags -- a synthetic polymer
-- each year, and less than 1 percent of these bags are recycled. Not only do these synthetic polymers
slowly leach harmful chemicals in the soil, their longevity and non-biodegradability means new landfills
will be a constant need as synthetic polymer use continues and grows.
Plastics have been consumed by land-based animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers,
camels, cattle, and other large mammals, in some cases causing death.
Tests have also confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to reproductive systems,
prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs. New research shows that larval fish are
eating nanofibers in the first days of life, raising new questions about the effects of plastics on fish
populations.
Plastic Problem in Construction
Construction is the second largest producer of single use plastics in the UK, beaten only by the
packaging industry. Every day, on construction sites all over the world, plastic waste is generated from a
huge number of activities and far too little of it is recycled. That waste builds up in waste transfer sites or
gets shipped overseas, and then plastic wrapping – originally used to ship cladding from Hamburg to
London – ultimately can end up floating in the oceans and threatening marine life. That’s not to say all
plastics are bad. In fact, as concerns about plastic waste become more mainstream, we need to be careful
with our messaging; particularly across the long tail of our supply chain. Plastic itself isn’t bad – we need
it! The use of plastic has helped revolutionize modern medicine and food hygiene. The construction sector
also benefits hugely from use of durable plastic products such as insulation, flooring, and of course mastic.
We rely on plastic packaging materials to keep our supplies protected and dry during transport and
storage. That isn’t likely to change in the short term. What needs to develop is a new mind-set across our
workforces, proactive and empowered to identify unsustainable uses of plastics; or opportunities to
significantly reduce waste. Modular and offsite construction, for example, offer a huge opportunity to
change the way we use materials and reduce the waste we generate. Even smaller objects, like drinking
water cups, can have a huge cumulative impact and so offer a way to leverage genuine impact by making
small changes. On our construction sites alone we use tens of millions of plastic water and coffee cups a
year. If we can change employee behavior here – by careful interventions and providing alternative
options – we can show people the power they have to make other positive changes. The last two years
have seen a huge shift in public opinion, and that means that plastic reduction represents a fantastic
opportunity to leverage for the wider sustainability agenda.