There is no doubt that climate change is here. Supercharged hurricanes, heat waves, and droughts are all being seen throughout the US. But that doesn’t mean we should give up. Now more than ever our choices matter. The less carbon and methane we add to the air, the more we can mitigate further damage. The good news? Reuse is a climate solution that requires no sacrifice in quality. Offerings like Plaine Products reusable packaging means a significant reduction in raw materials harvested and a near elimination of items sent to landfills and incinerators. Both of which are good for the planet.
How is Plastic tied to Climate Change?
The plastic pollution crisis is not only overwhelming our oceans, it is also pushing climate change. If plastic production and use continue to grow as planned, by 2030 plastic-related emissions could be the equivalent to emissions released by more than 295 new (500-megawatt) coal-fired power plants. How? Because each piece of plastic begins as a fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions are emitted at each stage of the plastic lifecycle. First, when the fossil fuels are extracted and transported, then as they are refined and used for manufacture, third as they off-gas as plastic waste in landfills, and if it’s not in a landfill, then they are polluting our oceans, waterways, and landscape.
Plastic packaging is the leading cause of increased demand for single-use plastics. It currently represents 40% of the total production of plastic products, but fossil fuel companies are hoping that packaging can make up for the demand they are losing as cars go electric and we switch to cleaner energy options like wind and solar. Since 2019, there have been at least 42 new plastics facilities that have opened, been under construction, or are in the permitting process.
The good news is consumers can have a real impact on whether or not they are successful. If there is no demand for plastic packaging, companies will make different choices. And there are many alternatives to plastic packaging: from skipping the packaging altogether to choosing paper or metal packaging which can more easily be recycled, as well as reuse.
Why is Reuse a Climate Solution?
Did you know that Plaine Products reuses boxes up to 5 times?!
Reusable products and packaging mean a significant reduction in raw materials harvested. Once the material are in the cycle we can keep reusing them, instead of going back for virgin material each time we have to produce more packaging. While recycling is better than harvesting virgin materials from the Earth, reuse is even better because it uses less energy than recycling. Its easier to wash and dry bottles than it is to melt them down and reform them.
Reuse also means a near elimination of items sent to landfills and incinerators. Landfills are off-gassing around 20% of global methane — an invisible, odorless gas with over 80 times more warming power than carbon dioxide in the near term. Waste incineration, used to prevent waste from going to landfills, released 5.9 million metric tons of CO2e in 2015. These incinerators are not only contributing to climate change but emitting harmful pollutants that are dangerous to the communities where they are sited.
The Environmental Justice Impacts of Reuse
While reuse is a climate solution, it also helps to address other important issues. As our friends at Beyond Plastics point out, climate-damaging plastic pollution from the product of plastic is not equally shared in the US. 90% of the reported pollution from US plastics manufacturing is being released into just 18 communities located mostly in Louisiana and Texas. The people who live within three miles of these petrochemical clusters earn 28% less than the average US household and are 67% more likely to be people of color.
Plastic pollution affects the most vulnerable communities first. Developed countries, such as the United States, send plastic to developing countries for processing. Eventually, the amount of plastic can become so overwhelming that these communities run out of ways to dispose of it and become covered in plastic trash or turn to waste incineration. Waste incineration in the US and abroad are usually located in marginalized communities adding to already serious pollution and air quality problems.
Addressing climate change requires action from all of us, and one of the simplest ways to make a difference is by rethinking our everyday choices. Choosing reusable products like those offered by Plaine Products can significantly reduce our reliance on single-use plastics, decrease harmful emissions, and promote environmental justice by supporting cleaner, more sustainable communities. By opting for reuse, you’re not only contributing to a healthier planet but also helping to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution on vulnerable communities worldwide.
