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PLASTICS: A TOXIC LOVE STORY

Plastic is in...

History of Plastic

Bottles, phone cases, buckets (that's pretty important), electronic circuit boards, most toys, clothing articles, the actual phone, fans, lamps, grocery bags, fruit & vegetable packaging, carryout containers, packing peanuts, Solo® cups, television, sound system, ear buds, furniture, etc...

Susan Freinkel

Author

Author... went to Wesleyan University for undergraduate work... went to Columbia School of Journalism for graduate work...

Worked for local Bay Area newspaper - The Recorder & American Lawyer

Wrote "American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree and Plastics: A Toxic Love Story"

What are plastics?

What is plastic and why do we use it?

Plastics are synthetic or partially synthetic polymers of carbon chains primarily made from petrochemicals -- it uses up 8% of the world's total oil production

Designed to mimic the property of natural resources and is thus derived from them -- early plastics used a lot of rubber

Invented in the late 1800s

Perfected in the period leading up to WW2

When did plastics become so popular?

World War II and then the rise of consumerist culture in the late 1940s

Rise to Fame

Freinkel's Examples

Freinkel's Examples

The author used eight examples:

- combs

- chairs

- Frisbees

- IV bags

- disposable lighters

- plastic bags

- soda bottles

- credit cards

Pros & Cons of Plastic

Benefits and Problems

Benefits

- Extremely cheap vs. other materials to produce or procure

- Established economy of scale

- Energy efficient production -- e.g. compared to paper bags

- Substitute for natural materials like ivory, glass and wood

- Waterproof & resistant

- Exceptionally durable & flexible

Benefits of Plastic in Life

Environment

Double click to edit

Environmental Problems

Cultural Problem

Cultural Problem

Her Solution

- Recycling and biodegradable material are not solutions, but alleviations

- We need to consume less and on a sustainable level

- Root issue is our consumerist culture -- must do or mitigate it

- Personally believe we cannot solve environmental issues without overhauling consumerist culture -- Africa & Asia will soon be the biggest consumers

Freinkel's Solution(s)

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