Time for a mind experiment! What if plastics were a valuable resource - and not seemingly endlessly and cheaply available? This change of perspective could help us break free from our toxic relationship with plastic. The goal: to consume plastics more consciously - away from single-use, towards long-term use, away from packaging that is quickly disposed of, towards sensible, recyclable plastic products.

Text: Jasmin Jouhar

Relationship status: It's complicated! On the one hand, we know only too well that we are polluting the environment and ultimately ourselves with our plastic consumption. But on the other hand, we can't let go of plastic. We have a literally toxic relationship with all the PET, PVC, polystyrene and polyester around us, a relationship that can be characterized by ignorance, self-deception or condemnation. Let's start with the ignorance: it has probably not escaped anyone's attention that there are huge whirlpools of waste in the oceans and that microparticles from decomposed bags, tire abrasion or textile fibers are found even in the remotest places in the world - and in the human organism. If you want to know more, you can easily find out that the production of plastic produces toxic substances, as does its incineration. And that the recycling of household waste has so far only worked to a limited extent and that our affluent waste is shipped to other countries.

But despite all these alarming findings: The production volumes of plastics and their consumption only seem to be going in one direction: upwards! We often ignore the damage we are causing - the climate crisis sends its regards. Psychologically, such behaviors have been explained many times; people think in the short term and suppress dangers that lie in the future. We are also simply very comfortable, and all those bottles, bags, foil and to-go cups come in handy. They are light, hygienic and can simply be disposed of after use. Never to be seen again - which is of course not true, see above. In fact, we can only afford our consumption-oriented lifestyle because plastics are cheap and available in large quantities. Packaging, household goods, clothing, toys, electrical appliances, vehicles - plastics are everywhere. Even the construction industry and agriculture have long been unable to manage without them. We are living in the plastic age! And, perhaps most importantly: As a producer of plastics, the chemical industry has absolutely no interest in curbing consumption. After all, plastics are basically just a waste product of oil processing that can be used to make a lot of extra money.

Let's move on to self-deception, another all too human reaction to the misery. When the realization dawns that we and plastic can't go on like this, we like to look for quick and easy solutions. For example: bioplastics. Sounds good too. Unfortunately, the reality is much more complex. The exact meaning of terms such as compostable plastic or bio-based plastic is not regulated by law. As a customer, I have to trust the information provided by the manufacturer. One example: the bin liners made from biodegradable plastics that many people use to collect and dispose of organic kitchen waste. In principle, the statement that the mostly green (!) films actually decompose into water, CO2 and biomass is correct - but only under certain conditions. And these conditions do not necessarily prevail in the composting plant of the local waste disposal company. The organic waste usually does not remain in the plant long enough for the plastic to decompose completely. Many sorting plants are also unable to distinguish organic plastic from "normal" plastic and sort the bags out straight away. And even if composting works: Biodegradable plastics can contain harmful substances. This applies not only to bin liners, but also to disposable tableware and packaging. Unfortunately, it borders on self-deception to simply replace one plastic with another, supposedly greener one. So far, there are no convincing non-toxic and easily degradable plastic-based alternatives. Consumers who want to make reasonably sensible purchasing decisions must therefore inform themselves very carefully. But who can always do this in everyday life?

A third common reaction to our toxic relationship with plastic: condemnation. As if plastics were fundamentally evil, they are shunned, even downright demonized. Of course, it is good and always justified to question our own plastic consumption and rethink old habits. The "zero waste" movement, for example, has developed many creative tricks and tips on how to avoid plastic in everyday life. But there are also plenty of useful plastic products that cannot simply be replaced. In the medical sector, for example, as the pandemic has shown quite emphatically. Disposable protective masks made of artificial fibers cause enormous mountains of waste worldwide, but have also saved countless lives and saved many people from serious illness - in case you needed any more proof of how complicated the human-plastic relationship is. Hoping that microorganisms will simply eat our plastic waste at some point is not a solution either, given the urgency of the situation. Although there are initial promising research results, for example with bacteria that can digest polystyrene, this has so far only been successful in the laboratory.

Pictures: Oleksabdr, Adobe Stock; Dario Sabljak; saravut, Adobe Stock; Peter Stackpole/ The LIFE Picture Collection/ Shuttershock; Xavi Cabrera, Unsplash

PET, PP or PVC? Who knows for sure which plastic is behind which abbreviation and what it is suitable for? Find out more about seven products from the MAGAZIN range and the plastics they are made of in the glossary.