Earth Day lesson: efficient use of plastics and more recycling

Last weekend, I took part in a community clean-up along the banks of the majestic Rhine River near my home. While we were relieved the pollution levels weren't that severe, what we encountered was still sobering: lots of single-use grocery sacks, a discarded shoe, a bulk bag, ropes, packaging materials … the array revealed just how exposed our waterways are to pollution from all kind of goods made from plastics.

As I surveyed the shoreline, I saw it as a microcosm of the broader crisis. Just as those misplaced objects inundated a section of this local river, our planet's environment is constantly inundated by plastics ending up where they shouldn't, what Earth Day reveals again. The reasons are complex, and addressing it will require a multitude of interventions.

However and important to note, plastics themselves aren't the root problem. On the contrary, they are materials we need for a sustainable future. What must improve is how we produce and manage plastics after use.

I'm excited these critical issues are being tackled at the international level: Two years ago, the UN initiated a process to develop a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution. Now, the fourth round of negocations (“INC-4”) takes place, from April 23 through 29 in Ottawa, Canada. And hopes are high an agreement could be reached by the end of this year to come into effect in 2025.

But one thing that really concerns me about the current trajectory: Various stakeholders are trying to include overly restrictive measures in the negotiations, advocating for greatly limiting plastic use across the board. Frankly, this would be a mistake.

It’s not just that we rely on plastics to drive the global green transition. Electromobility, sustainable construction, wind turbines, solar plants and many other applications wouldn’t work without them. Also, plastics have in many cases a lower environmental footprint than alternative materials and are often the more sustainable choice. A recent study from the University of Sheffield found some substitutes may actually contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions compared to plastics.

Imagining this particular bulk bag which I found would be a 1000-litre capacity box or container made from wood, steel or aluminum! It is true, such rigid alternatives would be less prone to being carried away by the elements if stored or stowed inappropriately. However, they'd also be significantly heavier, requiring more material and energy just to transport. Depending on the contents and forces they would face from the outside, they could also be more susceptible to breaking or leaking.

The vision must be using minimal new and recycled resources, but global population and prosperity growth make this difficult. Producing and consuming less plastic overall, as Earth Day messaging suggests, is not the right approach. Instead, we need to direct sustainably-produced plastics into suitable applications and maximize reuse and recycling through a comprehensive circular economy, with designing products for this end from the outset. This minimizes unnecessary waste and keeps virgin resources in the ground by maximizing circulation of what we already have.

As INC-4 negotiations and Earth Day events unfold, I hope all parties take a nuanced, evidence-based view. Plastics aren't inherently the enemy – they are part of the solution when produced and used responsibly within a circular model. Incorporating real-world data on exposure pathways and material lifecycle impacts is crucial.

As important as single clean-up activities like those along the Rhine are – only by seeing and addressing the full picture we can turn off the "tap" contaminating our planet. Perhaps every day should be Earth Day.