Plastics : a global challenge
Although plastics are revolutionary in terms of their many applications and low production cost, they also present major environmental challenges. It is essential to understand the origin of the problem, its consequences, and the actions needed to mitigate its effects.
Plastics : a non-renewable source
The first problem with plastics is its origin: oil. The petrochemical industry, which converts oil into plastic, now accounts for around 30% of the world’s oil consumption. This process contributes not only to the depletion of a non-renewable resource, but also to global warming by emitting large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. So the production of plastic is exacerbating global environmental issues, with direct impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems.
A problematic mass-produced waste
Global plastics production has doubled in less than 20 years and is still rising. Once produced, plastic quickly becomes a problematic waste. It is estimated that a third of plastic waste ends up in the environment, the equivalent of a garbage truck being dumped in the ocean every minute. This pollution is mainly due to our excessive consumption and poor waste management. The components and additives added to plastic to give it its properties such as rigidity and impermeability also make it extremely resistant. When plastic reaches the environment, its durability becomes its main drawback, as it can take several hundred or even thousands of years to decompose.
Single-use plastics : the heart of the problem
Single-use plastics, such as bags, bottles and food packaging, which are designed to be used only once, account for almost half of all plastics produced. This model of massive and ephemeral use accelerates the proliferation of waste in the environment. Because they are so light, these plastics are easily carried away by the wind or waterways, often ending up in the oceans. According to Initiatives Oceanes, the most frequently found single-use plastics in 2023 are cigarette butts, plastic fragments, polystyrene fragments, fishing nets and food packaging.
The absurdity of this situation is obvious: using a highly resistant material for objects that are only used for a few minutes. This reality brings us to question our consumption patterns and the use of plastic in our daily lives.
A threat to the environment and human health
In the ocean, macroplastics represent a direct threat to marine ecosystems. Animals such as seals, turtles, whales, seabirds and fish risk suffocation or poisoning by ingesting waste. Unable to digest the plastic, these animals are often left malnourished and weakened.
Microplastics, which are released directly into the environment in the form of small particles or are produced by the breakdown of plastic waste, also present health risks. These small particles have the same size than the plankton, at the base of the marine food chain. They can be ingested and gradually contaminate all levels of the food chain, right up to humans. The toxic additives contained in these particles can damage the immune system and fertility of marine organisms, and their impact on human health is still largely unknown.
Urgent solutions
It is essential to reassess the need and usefulness of products in order to eliminate unnecessary plastics.
Targeting single-use plastics as a priority: Implement strict laws banning these plastics and including guidelines on the alternatives to be adopted, while anticipating false good solutions.
Support change: Support consumers in this transition by providing information and resources to facilitate the adoption of more sustainable practices.
Read the technical sheet : Remove and reduce single-use plastics : where to start ?
Delaying end-of-life: reuse reduces the quantity of a product put on the market (i.e. its production), extends its useful life and limits the production of waste.
Create local reuse loops: Develop local reuse systems and assess their environmental impact. Please note: certain conditions must be met for reuse to be environmentally beneficial. See the technical data sheet:
Reduce the diversity of resins: simplify the types of resins used to strengthen existing and operational recycling channels, ensuring that markets for these materials are established. Read the fact sheet on recycling.
Simplify packaging: avoid multi-layer packaging, which complicates separation at sorting plants and recycling.
Plastics recycling is a complex process and only concerns a limited number of types of plastics. Furthermore, each recycling cycle degrades the plastic, an addition of raw material is therefore necessary to maintain a sufficient quality of material.
Although every piece of rubbish collected is one less piece of rubbish that threatens the environment, clean-up operations do not tackle the root causes of pollution. According to the UN, without a significant reduction in plastic production, waste will continue to accumulate on beaches. Moreover, these operations are costly and require considerable effort. That’s why, as an association, we are emphasising reduction at source to decision-makers and industry.
Replace plastics with bioplastics: Beware, so-called bioplastics and oxo-degradable plastics are false miracle solutions which, far from solving the problem of plastic pollution, can mislead us and even worsen the situation. To find out more about bioplastics, read our technical sheet.
A collective commitment is needed
Tackling the plastics crisis requires a collective commitment. Governments, businesses and citizens must work together to build a future where plastics are no longer a threat to our planet, but a resource that is managed responsibly and sustainably.
What is everyone’s role?
- Decision-makers: Establish global and sectoral regulations, apply penalties and define clear standards, harmonise definitions of terms such as biodegradability, biosourced, bioplastic and recycling.
- Companies: Propose more sustainable models, revise current standards and take responsibility for the plastics placed on the market.
- Consumers: Change their consumption habits and speak out to encourage change.
Towards an international treaty on plastics
In 2025, the United Nations Environment Assembly is expected to conclude three years of work on an ambitious global treaty to combat plastic pollution. The hope is that at the fifth session of negotiations, the parties will agree on clear obligations for States, effective implementation mechanisms and solid financing strategies.
2021
Beginning of the negotiations
2025
Adoption
BeMed advocates for a reduction in plastics production and consumption. Why ?
Given what we know today about the health and environmental risks associated with plastics, the most effective solution is to drastically reduce our consumption. For BeMed, it is essential to take into account the impacts generated from the moment plastics are produced, whether they are linked to CO2 emissions or by the additives present in the packaging we use every day. Eliminating the use of single-use plastics and encouraging the reuse of objects are the best ways forward. For each solution considered, particularly when substituting materials, it is essential to ensure that there is no transfer of impact, i.e. that the solution is no worse than the initial plastic. Ultimately, the only waste that doesn’t pollute is the one we don’t produce!