Our Plastic History: Learning from Past Mistakes

Two elephants in an ecosystem Photo by sutirta budiman on Unsplash

Plastic has been a priceless invention for human advancement. However, it also harms marine life and devastates our oceans. The history of plastic is complex, as not all plastics are the same. Understanding the different types of plastic available is important for improving recycling efforts and reducing our environmental footprint.

First let’s quickly learn when was plastic invented, where our relationship with plastic currently stands, and what can you do about it.

In 1869, John Wesley Hyatt invented the first hard plastic as a substitute for ivory. The growing popularity of billiards had put a strain on the demand for slaughtered elephants and Hyatt’s invention undoubtedly saved countless elephants¹.

In 1965, Sten Gustaf Thulin patented the plastic bag with the intention of saving trees. He had witnessed the devastation of forests, so he started using plastic bags and kept one folded in his back pocket for reuse².

Photo by Teslariu Mihai on Unsplash

During WW2, plastic was an important solution for ally forces who were trying to manufacture equipment. Since plastic was relatively easy to make and the ingredients were plentiful, it solved the problem of finite natural resources needed for the increasing manufacturing of weaponry and technology.

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But as time went on, and the manufacturing of plastic products became a multibillion-dollar industry, the dark side of this magnificent material began to show its face.

In 1997, a sailor by the name of Charles Moore discovered what we now call the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – one of several great gatherings of plastic in the ocean³.

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Today, we produce 400 million tonnes of plastic waste each year and humans currently ingest 126 to 142 tiny particles of plastic every day⁴. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. We need to reduce plastic pollution.

Think of Plastic Differently

The root of the word plastic comes from plassein, meaning “to mold or to shape,” and Plastic Bank is focused on doing just that – reshaping our perspective towards plastic and revealing its inherent value. The unique ability of plastic to be remolded and feed our ever-increasing desire for novel consumption allows us to steward the plastic waste we already have. We have enough plastic products in existence, littered throughout our waterways, oceans, and cities. All we need to do is just put it back into the economy through innovative plastic recycling.

Inventions have provided us with so much good – but we’ve had a tendency to invent ourselves out of problems, creating temporary solutions that harm our own cause in the long run. Prioritizing convenience and advancement over sustainability and nature has long-term consequences. Thankfully, we have most of the tools and resources to solve the world’s greatest challenges, but we need to allocate time and resources to design and implement them correctly. Many of the major problems like disease, starvation, or clean water have solutions we take for granted, which proves our ability to find solutions for the billions of people who live in poverty, and our inability to act on them with the salience and immediacy they deserve⁵.

What is the Next Step?

As consumers we need to understand proper plastic recycling. There’s more to it than people think, but thankfully it is easy to learn. Have a look at plastic products close to you and look for a number at the back or bottom. If it’s a 1 or a 2 it can be recycled, but if it’s anything else it usually cannot be, unless brought to a special facility. See below for the breakdown of the 7 different types of plastic and other ways you can help solve the plastic problem.

The 7 Types of Plastic

1 – Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)⁶

PET is what most plastic bottles are made of. It is often used for food and drink packaging. It is the most recyclable.

2 – High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

A denser, thicker and stronger version of PET, HDPE is used to make containers for milk and juices or shampoo bottles, and is also recyclable.

3 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

PVC is used in cling wrap, medical tubing, and toys. PVC is considered the most hazardous plastic. PVC is not usually accepted at recycling centers and therefore should be avoided.

4 – Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

This is the most used type of plastic in the world and is what creates plastic bags, frozen food bags, beverage cup coatings, squeeze bottles, and so much more. This plastic is quite difficult to recycle and therefore should be avoided.

5 – Polypropylene (PP)

Able to withstand heat, we see this plastic in hot food containers and car parts. It is not usually recyclable.

6 – Polystyrene (PS)

This is the styrofoam we use in food containers, cups, packaging, helmets, and egg cartons. It is not usually recycled.

7 – Other

There are a lot of other types of plastics and most of them can’t be recycled.

How you can help:

Contribute by purchasing a plastic offset certificate that helps stop ocean-bound plastic.
Talk to your local retailers and ask for products and packaging that are helping to sustain our resources by integrating reusable, recycled or biodegradable materials.
Exhibit demand for products using innovative recycling programs and supporting a sustainable plastics industry. Vote with our dollar by consuming reusable items. Choose products that are recyclable and made of recycled material.
Are you a business? Join our movement of Social Recycling to support the circular economy for plastic that allows you to stop ocean-bound plastic, and help people who stop it from entering the ocean transcend poverty.

“A Brief History of Plastic’s Conquest of the World” by Susan Feinkel, 2011, Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-brief-history-of-plastic-world-conquest/
“Plastic Bags were created to save the planet, inventors son says” by Phoebe Weston, 2019, Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/plastic-bags-pollution-paper-cotton-tote-bags-environment-a9159731.html
“From birth to ban: A history of the plastic shopping bag,” 2021, UN Environment Programme https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/birth-ban-history-plastic-shopping-bag#:~:text=Originally%20published%20in%20April%202018,every%20corner%20of%20the%20world.
“Here’s how much Plastic you might be eating every day” by Leslie Young, 2019, Global News https://globalnews.ca/news/5352302/microplastic-consumption-health/
“Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs,” by M. Yunus and K. Weber, 2011, PublicAffairs https://www.amazon.ca/Building-Social-Business-Capitalism-Humanitys/dp/1586489569
“Our Planet is Choking on Plastic” UN Environment Programme, https://www.unep.org/interactives/beat-plastic-pollution/

The ocean’s connection to all life on Earth

Photo by NEOM on UnsplashPicture yourself standing bare feet on a shore, where the land meets the vast expanse…

November 21, 2023 Featured

From global agreement to local action: the impact of the Plastic Treaty negotiations

Explore the groundbreaking efforts of Plastic Bank in tandem with the international community's ambitious Plastic Treaty. Discover how innovative solutions like Plastic Bank are making a significant impact on plastic pollution while simultaneously improving lives in regions grappling with plastic pollution and poverty. Dive into the comprehensive strategy of the Plastic Treaty, supported by 175 nations, and learn how it aims to reshape our relationship with plastic to safeguard our planet and marine ecosystems. Join us on a journey towards a cleaner, more regenerative future.