There is widespread criticism of plastics, especially plastic packaging of food is misleading and constructed in a sensational way that dismisses factual information and evidence. These misconceptions discourage people from plastics, which means more waste occupies the landfills and natural resources are unnecessarily utilized.
Myth: If we replace plastics with glass, metal or paper packaging, we could save a lot of CO2.
Reality: If we replace plastic packaging with other materials (glasses, cans or jars), the substitute would be on average 3.6 times higher, energy consumption would double, and greenhouse house emissions from transportation would almost triple.
Myth: Plastics are the largest fraction of the waste we produce.
Reality: Plastics in private households account for only 1% of the total waste. Public waste discussions focus on municipal waste and, above all, on plastic packaging. Fact: Only 1% of the total waste is plastic packaging.
Myth: A ban on plastics is the solution to end ocean littering.
Reality: The war on plastic is misguided because the littering of the oceans is not the problem with plastic. Rather, littering is a behavioural and management problem.
“Visual”
Think about this:
About 3 billion people live without access to effective waste disposal.
Many people living near coastal areas have no waste management mechanism.
As a result, the ocean becomes home to high input of disposed materials, including plastics.
“Visual” Plastic protects our environment and is crucial for resource efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint from food waste! Plastic packaging is not the enemy because plastics do not belong in the ocean and are there due to littering behaviour, which prevents the controlled management of plastic waste for efficient plastic recovery and sorting. Plastics can get a new life in a new product with appropriate collection and retrieval mechanisms and ensure environmental sustainability.
