Beyond Recycling: Five Achievable Solutions to the Global Plastics Crisis
The following insights come from the Mindaroo Foundation, a global non-profit dedicated to tackling pressing environmental and social challenges. Their research highlights the urgent need for systemic change in how we produce and manage plastics, focusing on solutions beyond traditional recycling methods.
While plastic has revolutionized industries ranging from medicine to technology, its unchecked production and disposal have led to severe environmental and health consequences. The reality is that recycling alone cannot solve this issue. Only a fraction of recyclable plastic is actually repurposed, and the process itself is energy-intensive and often exacerbates chemical contamination.
To truly address the plastics crisis, we must rethink our relationship with plastic and tackle the problem at its source. Here are five achievable solutions that take precedence over recycling.
- Eliminate Toxic Chemicals from Plastic Production
More than 16,000 chemicals are used in plastic production, many of which have been linked to serious health risks. Five of the worst offenders include:
- Bisphenols (BPA) – Found in food storage containers, receipts, and polyester fabrics.
- Phthalates – Present in children’s toys, food packaging, and medical devices.
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) – Found in old plastics, paints, and industrial rubbers.
- Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) – Used in furniture foam, car seats, and textiles.
- Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – Common in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and food packaging.
A total ban on these chemicals would significantly reduce health risks and environmental contamination, following the precedent set by past bans on toxic substances like lead in paint and petrol.
- Choose Sustainable Alternatives to Plastic
Consumer choices drive production. By choosing to buy reusable and biodegradable materials like metal, wood, and glass, we can reduce plastic dependency.
For instance:
- Use a stainless-steel water bottle instead of buying disposable plastic ones.
- Opt for wooden or bamboo kitchen utensils over plastic versions.
- Use glass rather than plastic containers whenever possible.
When demand shifts, industries follow suit, leading to innovation in sustainable materials and production methods.
- Invest in Research for Safer Plastic Substitutes
Plastics are often modified with chemicals to make them more flexible, fire-resistant, or durable. Instead of relying on harmful compounds, we should prioritize research into natural and non-toxic alternatives.
Promising advancements include citric acid-based plasticizers, which mimic natural reactions without the hazardous effects of traditional additives. Supporting such research ensures that necessary plastic applications, like in medical fields, become safer for human health and the environment.
- Improve Waste Management Systems
For recycling to be effective and economical, a clean and uncontaminated supply of a single type of plastic is required, and that’s hard to achieve given the huge variety of plastics in use today. Confusingly, so-called “compostable plastics” need specialised facilities to fully break down and these are not widely available.
Current systems must evolve to:
- Implement stricter regulations on plastic production and disposal.
- Support the development of truly compostable materials.
- Ban toxic additives that hinder safe recycling.
- Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Most single-use plastics exist for convenience, not necessity. Cutting down on disposable plastics is one of the most effective ways to curb waste.
Simple swaps include:
- Bringing a reusable shopping bag instead of accepting plastic ones.
- Drinking coffee from a reusable Keep Cup instead of a plastic-lined disposable cup
- Buying shampoo bars instead of liquid shampoo in plastic bottles.
- Hosting events with washable cutlery and dishes rather than single-use plates and cups.
