Welcome to our special newsletter edition for Plastic Free July! What's a better month to talk about freedom from plastic than July?
In this post, we read, listen, act, and reflect on July's topic: COVID and plastic. This article has been adapted from our sustainability newsletter, so please sign up for it to stay in the loop.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
We're going to spend the next four sections unpacking some myths and facts about plastic during COVID and what we can do to eliminate (or at least reduce) our plastic consumption during a time when our personal safety seems to depend on it.
What’s covered:
🎯 Action step 1 of 4: READ — Let's start by looking at a few articles together.
In today's READ module, I'm going to pull from two articles. I highly recommend reading both (it won't take you too long) and subscribing to HEATED, a daily newsletter for people who are pissed off about the climate crisis. It's written by Emily Atkin, who's been a climate reporter for years. She often features high profile guests like Al Gore.
Articles:
According to John Hocevar, the director of Greenpeace’s oceans campaign, “The plastic industry has really treated the Covid-19 emergency as an opportunity and is preying on people’s fear to scare them into believing that single-use plastic is the best way to stay safe. And so far, there isn’t any independent scientific research that supports that.”
Our wholesale discard of reusable bags and mugs and all the swag is based on a simple feeling of safety, rather than research. Let's talk about these implications:
So, why are we rabbiting down this plastic hole if scientific research doesn't back it up? Well, for one, because of all the "studies" that have "proven" that reusable bags will spread coronavirus everywhere and worsen the pandemic. In her HEATED newsletter, Emily Atkin provides an absurd summary of three of these studies:
In conclusion, it's not that our switch to single-use plastic is scientifically unfounded.
It just hasn't been found yet.
As we figure out the "right" thing to do over the next few weeks, let's just start by reminding ourselves to check where our information comes from and question who makes and influences powerful decisions.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 1 of 4: READ.
🎯 Action step 2 of 4: LISTEN — we'll watch a short video or listen to a podcast to further expand on our topic.
Okay, I thought I KINDA knew how plastic is made but turns out my knowledge is basic-er than basic. Thanks to this 6-minute National Geographic video, I know now what a huge role Big Oil plays.
I'll share the first four steps on how plastic is made so you can see for yourself who's implicated in our plastic pandemic and who stands to win the most. This is important info especially if we want to get involved in local policy and environmental advocacy and make real, lasting change.
First, you should know - most synthetic plastic is made from crude oil and natural gas. AKA fossil fuels!
The Nat Geo video also comes with solutions, briefly introducing natural plastics (did you know that's a thing?) and bioplastics. There is hope!
P.S. - You can actually find out what goes into your plastics from their product info - check out the video to learn more.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 2 of 4: LISTEN.
🎯 Action step 3 of 4: ACT — Now it's time to do something. Let's go!
You already know this - sometimes it feels like our individual actions don't matter because large institutions like government and corporations make the most sweeping decisions. And it's partially true; we need to focus our actions on everyday things we can do AND ways we can hold power to account.
Lucky for us, Big Oil/Big Plastic Daddy (who, as we learned, has the most to gain from the overuse of plastic) loves publicity and cares a lot about its image.
Today's ACT will be pretty simple - I'm including individual, systemic, short-term, and foundational actions you can take to go plastic-free (or at least "plastic responsible") this July and onwards.
It's scary to think that the coronavirus pandemic might undo all the anti-plastic wins we've been celebrating, but it's truly a group effort - let's rally together, raise awareness about corporate deception, and start thinking about how to change policy and action, not just hearts and minds.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 3 of 4: ACT.
Before we go any further, it's time for you to pledge your commitment. It takes less than 30 seconds to pledge and we can bother you about it in a friendly way, so we can hold each other accountable. Pledge here!
🎯 Action step 4 of 4: REFLECT — what can you commit to? What fresh perspectives can we look at?
In this REFLECT module, we're going to talk about plastic alternatives for the long term.
The first time I saw a bioplastic was at the UC Davis CoHo (the Coffee House - one of our most central gathering places). I didn't know that's what it was called at the time. I just remember looking at my coffee cup and realizing it was compostable. Same with my straw.
When I watched the NatGeo video two weeks ago about how plastics are made, they talked at the end about bioplastics being the future of plastic. So, are they?
Who better to ask than NatGeo themselves?!
Here's the article I'd like you to reflect on today. It's called "What you need to know about plant-based plastics". It's a short, 5-minute read. I'll summarize it here but I hope you check it out when you have time.
What are bioplastics?
What's the argument for bioplastic?
That sounds great... so what's the problem?
I'm still deciding what I think about bioplastics. It seems to me like they could be a great step forward as long as it's done carefully and with humans in mind, not corporations. Here's the article link again.
What do you think about the future of plastic? Sign up for our newsletter so you can let me know!
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 4 of 4: REFLECT.
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