Data Exploration: Plastics Data Introduction
Plastics Data IntroductionHannah Ritchie and Max Roser, adapted by Bennett SherryPlastic is everywhere in the world now. Plastic gets a bad reputation because it oftentimes ends up in rivers, lakes, and the ocean, causing pollution and damaging sea life. However, plastic might act as a key ally in the fight against climate change. 1220LLearn more at www.oerproject.com
2Plastics Data IntroductionHannah Ritchie and Max Roser, adapted by Bennett SherryIntroductionThe first synthetic plastic—Bakelite—was produced in 1907, marking the beginning of the global plastics industry. However, rapid growth in global plastic production was not realized until the 1950s. Over the next 65 years, annual production of plastics increased nearly 200-fold, to 381 million tonnes1 in 2015. For context, this is roughly equivalent to the mass of two-thirds of the world population. Chart 1 depicts this dramatic increase in our production of plastics.Chart 1Explore at: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/global-plastics-production By Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0. That’s a lot of plastic, and we make more of it every year. How big of a role does plastic play in climate change? It plays at least some role, because producing plastic uses fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases. Plastics are made mainly of fossil fuel-based chemicals like petroleum oils. In fact, making plastics uses up around 6 percent of annual global oil consumption. Many plastics also aren’t used forever. They’re eventually discarded. When plastic is improperly disposed of, it can end up in the oceans, where it causes major pollution issues. Yet, while plastics are a problem in these ways, future innovations might also point us toward climate solutions, as we learn new ways to make and dispose of plastics.1 A tonne is a metric unit of mass that’s equal to 1,000 kg. It’s equivalent to about 1.102 US tons or 2,204 US pounds.
3Plastics Data IntroductionHannah Ritchie and Max Roser, adapted by Bennett SherryDisposable plasticFossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are important issues, but the big environmental problem with plastic is how we dispose of it. Chart 2 highlights just how large that problem is. In the 65 years from 1950 to 2015, humans produced 8,300 million tonnes of plastics. Of that total, 4,600 million tonnes went straight to a landfill. Another 700 million tonnes were incinerated (burned). Now, you may think that a lot of plastic gets recycled, because your city or county may have a plastic recycling program. In reality, however, only about 6 percent, or 500 million tonnes of plastics, was recycled since 1950, and a good portion of that recycled material ultimately ended up in a landfill or incinerator anyway.Chart 2Explore at: https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution#global-plastic-production-to-fate By Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0. Logically, this chart leads us to the conclusion that most of the plastic humans have ever produced is only used once before being discarded. The vast majority of that plastic is either incinerated or in a landfill. The result is that we keep using more fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases as we make more plastic to replace all the plastic stuff we throw out.
4Plastics Data IntroductionHannah Ritchie and Max Roser, adapted by Bennett SherryWhat impact does all of that plastic have on greenhouse gas emissions? The answer may surprise you. When organic matter decomposes, it produces methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2)—both are greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. Plastics, however, decompose very slowly—over the course of a century or more—so, plastic in a landfill has little effect on greenhouse gas emissions. Properly constructed and maintained landfills can also prevent decomposing plastics from leaching into the surrounding area. Incinerated plastic produces carbon dioxide (CO2)—a primary driver of global climate change. However, energy from the incineration of plastics can be stored and utilized for energy later. Incinerator facilities that are properly managed also produce very little air pollution. Recycling is, of course, the best of the three disposal options, but landfills and incinerators that are well managed can limit pollution and emissions and even convert the waste into new energy.Rich plastic, poor plasticCareful readers, however, will have noticed a big problem in the previous paragraph: the phrase “properly managed.” The problem is, many places in the world lack landfills and incinerators that are properly regulated. In Chart 3, we see the countries that produce the most plastic waste per person. With the largest population, China produces the largest quantity of plastic, followed by the US and Germany. However, in Chart 3, we see that the US and Germany both produce much more plastic waste per person. In general, rich countries tend to generate more plastic waste per person. Again, though, careful readers will note that this chart represents only total plastic waste generation. It does not tell us anything about “proper management”—differences in waste management, recycling, or incineration.Chart 3Explore at: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/plastic-waste-per-capita By Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0.
5Plastics Data IntroductionHannah Ritchie and Max Roser, adapted by Bennett SherryNow take a look at Chart 4. It shows mismanaged plastic waste per person in individual countries. Mismanaged waste is the amount of plastic which either ends up as litter or is inadequately disposed. This includes plastics disposed in dumps or other open, uncontrolled landfills. In these environments, the material is not fully contained and can enter the surrounding environment. It risks leaking and being transported to the natural environment and, eventually, into the world’s oceans through waterways, winds, and tides. This happens more frequently in some parts of the world than others, as this map shows.Chart 4 Explore at: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/mismanaged-plastic-waste-per-capita By Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0. In general, high-income countries, including most of Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea have very effective waste management infrastructure and systems; this means discarded plastic waste (even that which is not recycled or incinerated) is stored in secure, closed landfills. In many parts of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, between 80-90 percent of plastic waste is inadequately disposed of, and therefore becomes at risk of polluting rivers and oceans. So, while countries such as the US and Germany throw away much more plastic waste per person, they also manage its disposal more effectively compared to low-to-middle-income countries.Why do we care if plastics are not properly disposed of? Well, plastics in our waterways is a problem of truly global proportions. Plastics wreaks havoc on marine life and birds, especially when animals eat it. Tiny microplastics also get into the water that humans drink. You probably eat or drink a small amount of plastic each day without knowing it.
6Plastics Data IntroductionHannah Ritchie and Max Roser, adapted by Bennett SherryPlastic potentialsWe clearly need to develop better systems to handle plastic waste and recycling if we are going to limit the very real harm of plastic waste. And, we need to improve the systems we use to make plastic, limiting the use of fossil fuels and the impact on greenhouse gas emissions. But, while plastics are currently a major problem, could they also become an ally in the battle against climate change?Well, possibly. Plastics have a lot going for them. It is a unique material: often lightweight, resilient, usually non-reactive, waterproof, and cheap. Plastics degrade slowly, so we can actually take carbon out of the environment and store it in plastics for hundreds of years. How much of an impact that makes also depends on decarbonizing the methods through which we produce plastics. Plastics also help us to minimize food waste—a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. While over-packaging is a significant issue, packaging of food products is essential for the prevention of food losses, wastage, and contamination. In fact, studies have shown that when we compare environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water, and resource use, plastic packaging tends to have a net positive impact. The impact of plastic production and handling is lower than the impacts which would result from food waste without packaging. Reducing packaging where it is used in excess is useful. However, abandoning packaging completely would have serious implications for food security and safety, and it would ultimately lead to large increases in the environment impact of food.ConclusionLook around and you will see plastic everywhere. In your phone, your clothes, your toothbrush, your computer, and on and on. Plastic may have a bad reputation, but our world depends on plastic and simply eliminating plastic will not solve our climate problems. In fact, they might play a role in limiting emissions. Innovations in how we produce and dispose of plastic will be an essential part our future.
7Plastics Data IntroductionHannah Ritchie and Max Roser, adapted by Bennett SherryHannah RitchieHannah is Senior Researcher and Head of Research at Our World In Data. She focuses on the long-term development of food supply, agriculture, energy, and environment, and their compatibility with global development. Hannah completed her PhD in GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh.Max RoserMax is the founder and director of Our World in Data. He began the project in 2011 and for several years was the sole author, until receiving funding for the formation of a team. Max’s research focuses on poverty, global health, and the distribution of incomes. He is also Programme Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Global Development at the University of Oxford, and Co-executive Director of Global Change Data Lab, the non-profit organization that publishes and maintains the website and the data tools that make OWID’s work possible.Image creditsCover image: A group of plastic pet bottles placed in an row. © DigitalVision /Getty Images.Articles leveled by Newsela have been adjusted along several dimensions of text complexity including sentence structure, vocabulary and organization. The number followed by L indicates the Lexile measure of the article. For more information on Lexile measures and how they correspond to grade levels: www.lexile.com/educators/understanding-lexile-measures/To learn more about Newsela, visit www.newsela.com/about.The Lexile® Framework for ReadingThe Lexile® Framework for Reading evaluates reading ability and text complexity on the same developmental scale. Unlike other measurement systems, the Lexile Framework determines reading ability based on actual assessments, rather than generalized age or grade levels. Recognized as the standard for matching readers with texts, tens of millions of students worldwide receive a Lexile measure that helps them find targeted readings from the more than 100 million articles, books and websites that have been measured. Lexile measures connect learners of all ages with resources at the right level of challenge and monitors their progress toward state and national proficiency standards. More information about the Lexile® Framework can be found at www.Lexile.com.OER Project aims to empower teachers by offering free and fully supported history courses for middle- and high-school students. Your account is the key to accessing our standards-aligned courses that are designed with built-in supports like leveled readings, audio recordings of texts, video transcripts, and more. Offerings include a variety of materials, from full-year, standards-based courses to shorter course extensions, all of which build upon foundational historical thinking skills in preparation for AP, college, and beyond. To learn more about The OER Project, visit www.oerproject.com