Bach 1

Hailey Bach

Professor Dean Leonard

ENG. 1201

20 March 2021

Why is plastic such a popular material in the production of goods when they are so many other
options that are more sustainable?
Plastic waste is a relevant issue that continues to grow daily. Single-use plastics such as

grocery bags, plastic straws, and cups have become so normalized in our daily lives that it is

often overlooked. We see some companies and brands willing to change their products for

environmental change but not large corporations.

The oceans biggest problem happens to be being contaminated with plastic. Plastic is

taking over our ocean and landfills. Nonprofit organizations and other groups often work to

tackle the plastic problem considering it’s not an issue the law or other authority tends to put

focus on. “Like other emerging ventures around the world, the nonprofit group is trying to help

solve one of the planet’s most daunting problems: oceans littered with plastic.” (Kugiya).

The next reliable source Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled

Water is a book written by a scientist and water expert. This book exploits the truth behind the

water bottle industry. The debate about plastic water bottles is nothing new. The idea that

bottled water is safer and cleaner is false and there’s even evidence to back this up. We are

often led to believe that bottled water is actually the cleaner and safer option however this is

not the case. Bottled water is self-regulated meaning there are no unbiased regulations for the

product. (Gleick).
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The next source “Can Plastics Be Ever Replaced in the Dairy Industry?” written by Pallavi

Ratha explains the history of packaging and why certain manufactures have chosen different

materials. “Common methods of disposal are a nuisance in this case as its incineration leads to

dense toxic fumes, with water and other forces of nature having little or no effect on it, leaving

us with a management crisis to clean the environment and tougher still, find a replacement for

plastics.” (Ratha). Plastic is convenient and able to withstand “conditions” for example plastic is

not going to break if you touch it. Plastics do not cause any reactions with dairy products

allowing this to be a better container option for dairy products. The convenience and

availability of plastic contribute the most to its widespread use and popularity.

The next source “Characteristics of Plastic Waste Processing in the Modern Recycling

Plant Operating in Poland” goes into depth about plastic waste in Poland. After polish residents

faced a situation with sanitary and waste issues the Polish government was encouraged to take

action. The government amended the Act of Inspection of Environmental Protection. This

amendment regulated transportation of waste, mandatory landfill monitoring, and other

regulations and rules. (Szostak).

The last source Analysis of Plastic Waste Processing Methods which summarizes

arguments and discussions about environmental pollution. “The invention of plastic has given a

major breakthrough in the economy” (Loishyn). With plastic improving the economy and being

a cheap convenient source it's hard for people to reflect on the negative side of it. Scientists

have been able to prove that plastic waste is leading to climate change. Though there are

different alternatives and solutions to address the problem more money and resources are

needed to come up with better processes.

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Works Cited

Gleick, Peter. Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water. 1st ed.,
Island Press, 2010.

Kugiya, Hugo. “Hoovering the Ocean.” Washington Post, 13 May 2020,

Loishyn, Anatolii A., et al. “Analysis of Plastic Waste Processing Methods.” TEM Journal, vol. 9,

no. 4, Nov. 2020, pp. 1460–1466. EBSCOhost, doi:10.18421/TEM94-18.

Ratha, Pallavi, et al. “Can Plastics Be Ever Replaced in the Dairy Industry?” Current Science

(00113891), vol. 119, no. 9, Nov. 2020, pp. 1411–1416. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.18520/cs/v119/i9/1411-1416.

Szostak, Elżbieta, et al. “Characteristics of Plastic Waste Processing in the Modern Recycling

Plant Operating in Poland.” Energies (19961073), vol. 14, no. 1, Jan. 2021, p. 35.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.3390/en14010035.