QUESTION &ANSWERS

Q1. What are plasti cs made from?

Plasti cs are made from raw materials like natural gas, oil or plants, which are refi ned
into ethane and propane. Ethane and propane are then treated with heat in a process
called “cracking” which turns them into ethylene and propylene. These  materials are
combined together to create diff erent polymers.

Q2. Explain why plasti cs doesn’t disappear when we throw it away.

Plasti c is made from polymers. Oil can be converted into plasti c polymers, and then a
number of chemicals such as soft eners (phthalates) and sun fi lters are added making
the plasti c very durable. The diff erent plasti c types, that are made from plasti c
polymers, have diff erent characteristi cs that are broken down in diff erent ways
depending on the specifi c material. A common feature of the plasti c types is that
sunlight and physical forces can erode the plasti c into microplasti c. In the ocean, the
sun and waves break down larger pieces of plasti c into  microplasti c, but it doesn’t
disappear completely. Therefore, we have to be very careful not to throw out plasti c
waste and to not leave even a single piece in the ocean and nature.

Q3. What are some health eff ects of plasti c on animals?

Plasti c represents a great threat to many animal species . Many animals confuse pieces
of plasti c with food, so they end up eati ng it (both large and small pieces of plasti c,
depending on the size of the animal).   Since plasti c cannot be digested like normal
food it inhibits the animals’ ability to eat real food and it can oft en lead the animal to
die of starvati on. Other animals die because they get wrapped up and stuck in plasti c
and cannot break free. Furthermore, researchers have discovered that plasti c
absorbed by blue mussels hurts their ability to reproduce

Animal research has shown that there is a decrease in the reproducti ve ability in
mussels and others, therefore we believe that we should err on the side of cauti on,
meaning that we should be hesitant when using plasti c constantly unti l research can
prove that it isn’t harmful.

Plasti c is connected to climate change in every stage: from the extracti on of oil and
gas for plasti c, in the producti on phase and in the disposal stage. Furthermore, CO2 is
emitt ed when plasti c is broken down by the sun’s rays in nature.

Q4. Is there an alternati ve product we can use instead of plasti c?

In many ways’ plasti c is a fantasti c product, but it isn’t always the best material to
use, and someti mes you don’t even need an alternati ve. We have a rule of thumb that
says to avoid single-use plasti c, because it is disposed of aft er one use.

Alternati ves to plasti c could be bamboo, glass, fabric or metal, but sturdy high-quality
plasti c can also be the right choice because it can be reused ti me aft er ti me. An
example of this are the thick plasti c grocery bags that last for several years.
 It may be a threat to animals, because they think it is food. This means that there are
animals who choke on plasti c or die from starvati on.

When the plasti c fl oats in the ocean, it can absorb environmental poisons and
dangerous chemicals that the animals consume when they eat the plasti c, and people
ingest it when they, for example, eat fi sh. Plasti c is also ugly when seen lying in
nature, and it can clog streams and choke plants when it piles up.

Q5. Explain why we cannot simply ban all plasti cs?

Plasti c has become an inevitable part of human life. Plasti c is used in almost every
single product we use. Plasti cs are cost effi cient, durable lightweight, and easily
assessable, effi cient and sanitary consumer product. In many ways,  plasti cs are
bett er for the environment than other alternati ves because they are more effi cient
and use less energy during producti on and transport.

We don’t think that you should completely stop using plasti c, since there are several
instances where it is a very good and practi cal product.  I think the soluti on to the
plasti c problem is not a complete ban, but rather designing a plasti c that will compost
in a natural environment along with less usage of single -use plasti cs. Banning plasti cs
before fi nding a perfect alternati ve can result in infl ati on of products which uses
plasti cs. 

Q6. Is plasti c polluti on a nati onal problem or a global problem?

Each human being on average ingests fi ve grams of plasti c a week.” This fi nding from a
recent US study has made headlines around the world.  Research has begun to show
that human beings ingest and breathe, without knowing, a large quanti ty of plasti c
nanoparti cles

The situati on is alarming and stands as a threat for humanity as a whole, with long-
term eff ects on our metabolism, cancers and malformati ons that are proven but
diffi cult to quanti fy. Even worse, plasti c in all its forms, from the largest to the
smallest, is an excellent vector for the transport of bacteria, both in the body and in
the oceans. The threat for biodiversity and aquati c ecosystems is clear and present.
Not only are invasive species spreading more easily from one conti nent to the next
thanks to plasti c, but the latt er also binds pathogenic micro-organisms that are
dangerous for humans and animals. The risk, then, is very real, and there will be
environmental, health and economic consequences,

htt ps://plasti cchange.org/faq/