Plastic Pollution is Everywhere…but it does not need to be that way

What’s the problem and how big is it?

We’ve all seen the images?- ocean trash gyres, coastal cleanups, dead birds and fish with plastic in their bellies, and waterways choked with single use plastics. Imagine a world where this is not the case. Isn’t it beautiful? Its not impossible…but it will take some serious work. Let me explain.

If you’re a human who uses anything made of plastic, don’t kid yourself, you are likely part of the problem and have a hand in what comes next. That said, you and today’s Circular Economy, innovators will drive how we handle the crisis.

Why does this problem exist?

Some may ask - “What’s the challenge with plastic pollution?". Unfortunately, I’m not going to invest a lot of time digging into the basics of the problem here, there’s tons of information available (if you want a terrifyingly good read checkout Matt Simon’s book “A poison like no other” and you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know. Let’s just say that it is a massive problem that some expect to triple in size in the near future. Plastic pollution permeates the environment in our homes, clothes, food, fields, oceans and waterways and it is not going away anytime soon.

Simply put, plastic pollution occurs because traditional, petroleum based plastic both contains and attracts toxins that persist in the environment long after the utility of the application of the plastic is over. This is a complicated challenge because different types of plastics are more durable, reusable, recyclable or recyclable than others. They are often the least expensive way to solve a packaging and/or distribution challenge for a manufacturer or distributor, but often the impacts of the end of life are passed on to local governments who are overwhelmed in their ability to manage the load. What’s worse, this end-of-life pollution often goes to the commons in a way that those least responsible for the pollution are the most impacted.

How might this problem be solved?

Clearly, there is no single solution for this challenge. We must explore “all-of-the above” approaches to deliver impacts. INC 5, the The fifth session of the UN's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, is about to start. This convening intends to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. In a recent episode of the Circular Economy Show from our friends at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, they dig deep into the opportunity presented by the conference. I highly recommend checking into it.

If you want to understand more about what is going on closer to home, checkout the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s guide to US Extended Producer Responsibility Laws. If there is one thing I've learned is that corporations are often slow to lead on implementing policies in these areas without regulator certainty from governments or pressure from consumers.

What must we do now?

Bottom line - this crisis is an issue of awareness and stewardship. As individuals, we need to be aware of the crisis, the current responses to it, and the actions we can take that will make a difference - whether it is through our consumption choices, by making demands of manufacturers, or by selecting better business practices and innovations. The essential transition from traditional petroleum based plastics to a breadth of different solutions is very achievable. It will create tons of new jobs and industries at multiple levels. Individuals and organizations must do what they can where they can, as even small changes add up in unexpected ways. In the US, governments at any level (i.e. municipal, county, state or federal) ultimately, respond to the demands of the electorate. If you're feeling like some (or all) of your values are not reflected in the outcomes of the most recent election cycle, making small changes and committing to small steps of leadership can have a huge impact ...especially if you bring some like minded people along with you.

For our part at Thruline Networks (https://www.thrulinenetworks.com/) we focus on buiding the Circular Economy based on simple strong unit economics of mission driven companies. We seek to grow seed stage companies into impact unicorns (some call them Zebras). Right now we’re working with several companies and organizations developing innovative solutions to these challenges today. We expect the importance of local investment and collaboration only to grow in 2025. Feel free to reach out for more information. And don’t hesitate to share what solutions you’re curious about or excited about!