A new report released by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines the plastics industry's knowledge of the ocean plastics problem, answering the question: When did the industry become aware of the issues caused by its products, and what did it do about it?
A too familar sight
The report "Plastic Industry Awareness of the Ocean Plastics Problem" is the third in the ongoing Fueling Plastics series. Plastics are pollutants of unique concern, as they do not break down quickly and accumulate in the environment as more is produced.
Scientists first became aware of the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean in the 1950s, shortly after the introduction of oil-based plastics in consumer goods. According to the report, the chemical and petroleum industries were aware of or should have been aware of, the problems caused by their products head focusing no later than the 1970s.
"Unfortunately, the answer to both when the plastic industry knew their products would contribute to massive public harm and what they did with that information suggests they followed Big Oil's" playbook on climate change: deny, confuse, and fight regulation and practical solutions," says Steven Feit, CIEL attorney and lead author of Fueling Plastics.
Industry opposed solutions
The plastics industry has opposed sustainable solutions and fought local regulations of disposable plastic products for decades, even as evidence of the plastic crisis continues to mount. While the industry acknowledges the problem, plastics producers often assume that they are only responsible for plastic waste in the form of resin pellets and that all other forms of plastic waste are beyond their control.
"The narrative that consumers bear primary responsibility for the plastics crisis is a public relations myth perpetuated by the petrochemical industry," continues Feit. "Consumer changes on their own won't solve the plastics crisis, as hundreds of billions of dollars from the petrochemical industry are being poured into new plastic production. We need a global, binding treaty that regulates plastic pollution throughout its life cycle, from well-head focusing production to ocean waste."
Countries gathered at the third session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, from December 4 through 6, focusing on moving "Toward a Pollution-Free Planet." Under consideration is a resolution on marine litter and microplastics, which could establish a working group that aims to coordinate responses to the plastics crisis.
