Plastic in the oceans is a capitalist problem

Molly Millar
Sep 2, 2018 · 4 min read

Our oceans are overflowing with 12.7 million tonnes of plastic that chokes sea creatures and birds, pollutes waters, and ravages ecosystems. While this is an issue that has gained a huge amount of attention in the public eye recently, it shouldn’t be terribly surprising to anyone on consideration of how much plastic they use in their own life. It’s likely that every day we’ll use some kind of plastic, like a straw, certain food packages, or a disposable coffee cup, that can’t be recycled.

By now it is a rote piece of advice that “if everyone tried to use less plastic…” and campaigns to stop the flow of plastic into the oceans herald from Greenpeace to the Daily Mail. The call to minimise plastic waste within the context of our homes and daily purchases has been unifying because of its simplicity and lucidity. However, while the traction gained recently for recycling and campaigns against plastic has been a win for environmentalism, it masks the real and insidious corporate forces behind plastic production.

Of course it is true that we should all try to waste as little as possible, and the possibility that plastic straws and cotton ear buds (with plastic stems) could be banned in the UK next year is definitively a step forward. But smug admonishments surrounding our individual usage of plastic serves to point the blame at those who “consume” rather than produce food in excessive plastic packaging. Consumers, and in particular those who cannot afford to spend time and money exploring more eco-friendly food options, are given little other choice — cheap food in black takeaway boxes are one of the kinds of food packages that are completely non-recyclable.

The ban on plastic straws and the scrutiny of waste is undeniably a good thing. But the huge size of the movement to ban plastic straws is endemic of a culture of capitalist individualism that fails to adequately assign the blame of the fact that our planet’s temperature is rising — and in fact works to create great PR for those corporations, such as McDonalds, that take the step of removing straws from their restaurants, while their other much more environmentally worrying practices largely go uncriticised.

Even organisations working to reduce plastic waste are prone to this kind of individualist thinking. Ocean Conservancy states that “plastic in the ocean is a people problem” while admitting that “plastic production is expected to double over the next ten years”. Non-profits like this do undeniably good work in helping stem the flow of plastic in the seas and campaigning for laws on the amount of single use plastic that accompanies our food and drink. But this is a misdiagnosis of the problem, and without getting that right, we’ll never find a solution that works.

Plastic production must be stopped at its source. When people are (perhaps even rightfully) condemned for using plastic straws, where is the equivalent uproar over corporations that are making the plastic — especially in the mainstream media which has been so quick to jump on the plastic ban bandwagon? 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions. Making minor lifestyle changes is simply not enough to stop the rapid encroachment of the devastation of climate change.

To see the rampant forgiveness of corporations causing climate change, look at the deal Coca-Cola has launched with theme parks such as Legoland and Thorpe Park, giving visitors half-price entry for recycling a water bottle. This was based on research by the drinks company that found that 64% of people would be more likely to recycle if they were instantly rewarded for doing so. This not only rewards the consumers for partaking in an endless cycle of consumption but Coca-Cola itself. It is what passes for environmentalism when we forget that the lasting consequences of plastic waste start at its production.

It will take much work to change the fact that only 9% of the world’s plastic is recycled. Even more worrying is the insidious ways in which this eventually occurs — from the UK most of our waste is dumped to other nations such as China, who only recently has placed a ban on imports. This transportation process counteracts its own goodwill through the emissions that are inevitably given off from shipping. It should also be noted that sending tonnes of waste outside of the country’s borders coincidentally happily strips our government of accountability or regulatory annoyances. We need an effective recycling infrastructure at home, but it’s one that the companies who churn out the waste should pay for — at present, taxpayers pay more than 90% of the cost of recycling, while corporations only profit.

Of course, it should be ingrained in our culture to recycle and minimise waste, and the way to do this is through government regulation on plastic, ease of access to recycling facilities, and widespread public access to tap water. A financial incentive on recycling may also be necessary. But ultimately using recyclable materials and putting boxes in a separate bin shouldn’t be a self-congratulatory act — it should be the bare minimum. The culture of Western individualism makes it seem like we are all either saving or condemning the earth through our pitifully small actions, but our wasteful behaviours ultimately will not end the world. What will make a real difference is holding those who have the power to do so to account.

not the pub

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade