Progressing Towards a Sustainable Dream: Our Lucid Path to A World Without Plastic

In a world facing the consequences of rampant plastic pollution and the limited reserves of fossil fuels, there’s an evident need for change. Our vision is rooted in the transition to an ecological, circular mindset. Through various strategic horizons, our plan involves a journey from mitigating the effects of plastic pollution to eradicating its root cause.

Our Lucid Dream

First of all, where is it that we want our journey to bring us? Our dream state envisions a harmonious ecosystem where every entity contributes positively, borrowing principles from nature itself.

In our ideal world, humanity thrives within an “ecological civilization” where the interconnectedness of all life forms is recognized and honored. Every aspect of our society, from its economic models to its cultural norms, is designed around the idea of mutual flourishing. The practice of extractive capitalism has given way to regenerative systems, with the economy valuing activities that regenerate the environment and enhance the common good. In this world, every individual has the autonomy to lead a life aligned with their values, all while contributing to the larger vision. Decisions are made collectively, ensuring a democratic, bottom-up approach. With the shared goal of planetary health, community discussions are rich with insights from diverse perspectives. The emphasis on health extends beyond the individual to the entire surrounding environment. Personal well-being is nurtured through holistic practices and a balanced lifestyle, and the health of ecosystems, forests, rivers, and oceans is seen as integral to the health of humanity. At the heart of this vision lies an ecological civilization where humanity’s aspirations and actions are in harmony with the rhythms of nature. It’s a world where the concept of ‘thriving’ isn’t restricted to humans alone but includes every leaf, bird, and stream in its embrace.

In this world, there is no space for unnecessary harm, therefore pollution — a “dumb” byproduct of human activity bringing negative effects to both humanity and nature — does not exist. In this context, we imagine our organization to be functional to achieve a world where plastics are a forgotten material, replaced by regenerative, natural alternatives. We envision a world where we have successfully transitioned away from conventional plastics and embraced the use of non-polluting bioplastics. This vision represents a profound evolution in our current approach to plastic materials. These innovative bioplastics are not derived from finite fossil resources, but rather from renewable and sustainable raw materials. They are not only biodegradable but also potentially beneficial to the environment, serving as a natural fertilizer. This transformative shift not only eliminates plastic pollution but also aligns with the principles of a circular economy and an ecosystem perspective.

The Steps Towards Realizing this Dream

The dream we imagined will not be reached in a short amount of time and will require many transformations before it becomes reality. However, we envision a clear — although complex — path for today’s world to evolve.

Horizon 1 (H1): A Regenerative First Step

At present, the immediate goal of our organization is to tackle the issue of microplastics, particularly Tyre and Road Wear Particles (TRWP). Here is a summary of our journey in focusing on TRWPs at first, providing context to our first Horizon and perspective on the road we are taking towards Horizon 3.

We were drawn towards the subject of microplastic as it is a very unspoken huge-scale issue worldwide, especially microplastics originating from tires. According to the European Commission, microplastics are defined as tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than 5mm, made up of synthetic, water-insoluble polymeric materials. Once microplastics are released into the environment, they do not biodegrade and tend to accumulate. Given this broad definition, a diverse set of microplastics originating from multiple sources exist. Based on their provenance, microplastics can be broadly classified into “primary” and “secondary”. Primary microplastics — commonly known as “intentionally added” microplastics — are purposely manufactured and added to products in the form of particulates: they can be found, for example, in personal care items (i.e. body scrubs). Secondary microplastics, instead, originate from the fragmentation and consumption of larger plastic elements and are therefore known as “unintentionally released”. Most microplastics present in the environment are believed to be of the secondary type and among the most relevant unintentional releases we can find textile production and use as well as tire abrasion.

Microplastics resulting from tire abrasion are part of the so-called tire and road wear particles (TRWP), which are defined as tiny debris formed during normal driving conditions from the friction between the tire and the road, which is necessary to ensure sufficient grip and safety. During the abrasion process, the tire and road surface particles mix and form TRWPs. Generally, TRWPs are composed of a complex mixture of tire tread material (e.g. synthetic and natural rubber, silica, oil, carbon black, sulfur compounds, zinc oxide), road pavement material (e.g. polymer modified bitumen), road marking particles, brake wear particles and other airborne elements that commonly deposit on pavements’’ (OECD,2021). Tyre wear is “one of the most dominant sources of micro plastic emissions into the environment”, with examples such as 30% in Germany and 50% in Denmark and Norway (Baensch-Baltruschat et al.,2021). About 1.3 million tons of tire wear are generated on European roads every year.

Every year, 42,000 tonnes of microplastics end up in the natural environment according to the European Chemicals Agency. Tires are one of the primary sources of microplastic pollution in the world. A 2017 report from the Union for Conservation of Nature found that tires account for approximately 28% of ocean microplastic pollution. Microplastics in turn pollute soil, marine water, freshwater, and drinking water. By accumulating in the environment, they eventually reach animals, increasing the toxin levels and causing a variety of adverse physical effects, and could end up being consumed by humans. Additionally, microplastics have also been found in human lungs, showing that humans are breathing and ingesting microplastics and accumulating them in their organs through airborne microplastic pollution.

With this huge problem, we had to think of a solution that would first work on the abrasion of tires — which is inevitable for tires to perform the activities they are conceived for — while keeping the safety of driving. Then, through various changes in our activities, eliminate plastic usage in all industries, in all shapes or forms.

Our first solution looks to nature to find innovative ways of solving the above-mentioned problem. Employing biomimicry, we have initiated efforts to develop bio-based solutions that not only counteract the release of these pollutants but also do so in an ecologically benign way. With our product, tires last longer, shed less, and allow for more secure road transport. While this phase is focused on a niche problem within a specific industry, it still serves as our stepping stone towards our higher mission.

We interviewed potential end-customers in our immediate network for our microplastics project and their answers on the end-of-life of tires were very interesting. This information is key as we cannot discard that moving towards a world without polluting plastic would still include the ones we have used so far. Following are some insights into our old interviews to provide context to the conversations we conducted with some of them a few days ago. In terms of knowledge related to end-of-life tires, awareness of what becomes of tires is rather blurry or unknown. Three people mentioned that they know the tires, not too worn out of course, would be redirected and sold again in “back” markets. This is the case for most tires in Western and Southern Europe that are then sold in Eastern Europe once the first usage of a few years is completed. One interviewee who lives in Asia, mentioned a similar system in Southeast Asia, one that seems to be more developed and widespread than the one in Europe as there are fewer governmental regulations. All three interviewees mentioned they would like to have traceability on the end-of-life product to know if the products they consume harm the environment. Additionally, for two of them, living in Italy, this information would be informative as they pay a tax for the end-of-life of tires to be taken care of and done properly. Once the tire is not in the state to be used again and cannot be sold in another market, there is no clear image of what becomes of the tire. All assumed — and correctly so — that they are not recyclable at all. One of our interviewees, the Secretary-General of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), offered a valuable perspective: he underlined that the dynamics and relations between actors in this industry are very intricate. These complex relationships closely parallel the connections we want to build with stakeholders in our plastic pollution reduction efforts.

With this information, we reached out to some of them again to speak about our vision and the ways to get there. A world with no polluting plastic was clearly an attractive dream but that might be just it: a dream. Their answers were rather realistic and practical on the subject but they did show optimism and interest in living in such a world. As potential consumers from our immediate network, it was interesting to speak with them and see if we could have their support in accomplishing our vision. Doubts were raised, as Horizon 3 is tackling something so much bigger than us but once mentioned, the aggregation of actors and players we want to create, Horizon 3 seemed slightly less far. A few successes were mentioned, such as plastic straws being nearly completely replaced by cardboard or other bio-materials, and plastic bags being banned slowly everywhere in Europe and in many countries in Southeast Asia as well. Moreover, smallholders in the tire production chain revealed the imminent and far-reaching consequences of changes in the current supply chain. Balancing sustainability with business sense has been of crucial importance lately for them. Just as plastic manufacturers are under pressure to obtain social and environmental responsibility certificates while maintaining their economic viability, we seek to achieve a resolutive environment for them. For these changes they were very positively welcomed by our interviewees, so why not go further?

Horizon 2 (H2): Broadening Our Perspective

Transitioning into Horizon 2, our approach expands to address the broader issue of plastic pollution. We dive into innovative methods, still looking to nature for inspiration, like harnessing the power of certain fungi known to consume plastics to help reduce the existing waste in the environment. The discovery and research into plastic-eating mushrooms hold significant promise in advancing our efforts to combat plastic pollution in a natural and eco-friendly manner. These remarkable mushrooms possess the unique ability to biodegrade certain types of plastic, aligning perfectly with our intermediate goal of reducing plastic pollution in a regenerative way. As we highlight the potential of these plastic-eating organisms, we not only contribute to reducing plastic pollution but also raise public awareness about innovative and nature-inspired solutions, which can further bolster our efforts in countering lobbying groups and promoting the adoption of sustainable alternatives.

We had the chance to interview a start-up working towards innovative technologies and solutions in the realm of rubber and plastics production. As we worked on our biomimicry solution we reached out to them and had a very interesting conversation. Having created and nurtured this relationship with them, we reached out once again to talk about reaching Horizon 3 and making step by step our last horizon a reality.

Before our catch-up meeting, we reviewed some of the information this company had provided us with last year. During our trip to Düsseldorf, at the K2022 Plastic and Rubber trade show, we had the chance to speak with a representative of the startup, who works for the quality and product development department. The start-up, through major research and development, produced a new type of product: rubber made from sugarcane, eliminating synthetic rubber and using bio-glue without any form of plastic. This bio-rubber can be used in all markets from complementary materials for the food industry to tires. This is an important detail as it would not only be an innovation for the tire industry but one that can disrupt many if not all industries using rubber, on top of being an applicable inspiration of the plastic industry. When the raw material is first harvested it looks like honey, the representative explained, showing us the liquid rubber in various pictures. What provides hardness to the liquid rubber is the sugar cane. Using this rubber would increase grip while reducing abrasion levels therefore reducing microplastics. While, for example, a tire in this material would still shred during usage, the microplastics are then what we could call “micro-bioplastic” out of a bio-based rubber. The startup was still in its early stages, the product is commercialized but it is not yet well measured by globally shared norms.

We thought it would be even more interesting to get in touch with them again to see how they have evolved since last year, to also understand how their solution was being embraced by the market. They revealed to us that while we spoke a lot about the tire industry last year, they are especially interested in disrupting multiple industries with a focus on the food industry. They face strong lobbying with the food industry which is highly regulated. Their product would have to pass multiple levels of high-level regulations and certifications in terms of hygiene, durability and more. From the conversation we had, we realized that indeed lobbying would be one of the hardest challenges to successfully achieve our dream. As an example, the food industry is particularly regulated as any packaging needs to be analyzed and controlled heavily by being in contact with food directly. Plastic has been the solution so far with multiple properties that are difficult to reproduce using nature and yet the startup seems to have the solution and would make a key partner. The startup could be an important partner that we should secure to work towards Horizon 3, especially through their innovative and rigorous patent in liquid bio-made, sugar cane plastic and rubber.

Horizon 3 (H3): A World Without Polluting Plastics

The pinnacle of our strategy pictures a world where polluting plastics are rendered obsolete. By promoting bio-based, possibly net-negative, biodegradable alternatives, we aim to transition to materials that are not just eco-friendly but potentially beneficial for the environment. In the future, we want any residual particles from these materials to serve as natural fertilizers, ensuring a seamless integration into the Earth’s natural cycle.

Integral to our mission is challenging established norms and power structures. For our plan to succeed, lobbies that have long influenced the plastics industry need to be met with compelling arguments, the most pressing of which is the finiteness of fossil fuels. Our transition to sustainable alternatives is not just an environmental necessity, but also an impending economic one. Thus, initiating the transition to more sustainable alternatives offers significant advantages. This will be a pivotal argument in our narrative to convince the current industry to shift away from fossil-based plastics.

In addition, we reached out to an old connection, a sales manager who works at a company dedicated to the distribution of fillers and additives made from plastic to the rubber industry (not limited to tires). He was a huge enthusiast of our project on microplastics and wanted to stay in touch and for us to share our results and business plan with him once completed. He was quick to respond once we reached out to him once again but was not available for a proper long conversation. He was able to tell us that changing the plastic industry will be difficult as it sits on a “pile of gold” (fossil fuel money) and he believes that a huge amount of pressure is needed on the industry as they will not change unless they have to. With this in mind, we can imagine that once fossil fuels run out they will have to change but we do not have the luxury of having time. He shared our common frustration over the fact that unless being more environmentally friendly will be cheaper and more profitable, change is not foreseeable. He has high hopes for his company to move forward in the future and become disruptive in the industry as they are, according to him working on various innovative bio-plastics. We will maintain this relationship as there might be a possibility as we move step by step towards horizon three that the company’s partnership and network could be of use to us.

Our present efforts are relevant as part of a higher-level structured approach that sees every intermediate destination on our journey as a step toward our ultimate goal. With the progression across the horizons, it is clear how we transition from just battling the symptoms of the problem (decreasing microplastic production in H1, to batting plastic pollution in H2) to progressively working towards eliminating its root cause (a completely different material replaces polluting fossil-based plastics in H3). Our symbiotic relationship with nature, whether through imitating it or leveraging its capabilities, strives for solutions that are sustainable and harmonious.

To envision where we start from and where we need to go, we also constructed two lenses to illustrate the jungle framework for our organization. As is evident from the spider graph, the two lenses (red for H1 and blue for H3), are very different from one another. While consumers and governments remain influential, the rise of material innovation, the plastics industry, and sustainability experts signals a growing emphasis on technology and industry collaboration in the pursuit of more sustainable practices and the reduction of plastic pollution. In H1, consumers held a substantial role, reflecting their significant influence on the dynamics of the industry. However, as we transition to H3, the landscape undergoes a transformation. R&D for material innovation emerges as the most pivotal actor, highlighting the growing importance of innovation in addressing plastic pollution and sustainability. The global plastic industry and lobbies of the plastics industry also witnessed a remarkable increase in significance, underlining their strong influence in shaping the future of the industry. This shift underlines the complexity of the shift we are aiming to achieve by mirroring how different the systems in which we work will have to be from the present.

The path to our dream, as outlined by our three horizons, offers a clear roadmap toward a sustainable and harmonious world. It’s a journey of innovation, persistence, and collaboration with nature. By understanding and tackling the problem from its roots, we ensure that our dream of an ecological, circular world isn’t just a vision — it’s a possible reality.

by the Vanta team: Lucie Barthelemy, Cecilia Giunta, Alice Liotta