Individual SDG’s

Plastics are a combination of polymers and additives. Additives are chemical substances that are added to plastic to give it the properties desired for commercial or industrial use, and include materials such as plasticizers and flame retardants. Some of these substances disturb the hormone balance in animals and humans. Another area of concern is the effect of nanoplastics. These particles are so small that they can easily penetrate the body: for example depending on the size it may penetrate organ tissue (whether in the brain or in the gut) and cells. The poisonous particles can cause local inflammation and all kinds of physiological effects, some of which are yet to be researched thoroughly.

The sixth sustainability goal determines that the quality of freshwater must be improved. The pollution of inland bodies of water must be reduced and much more water needs to be purified in order to increase the amount available for safe consumption.

 

The effective collection and processing of waste, although seen as a basic and indispensable service, is missing in many cities and other residential communities. This causes many problems, especially in areas of dense population.

Mass production and consumption of plastic, especially that of single-use packaging plastic, are major contributors to plastic pollution in the sea and on land. The pollution has a negative influence on the functioning of ecosystems and endangers animal lives as well as the food supply of large groups of people. Burning all the plastic as a form of waste-management contributes to toxic air pollution. The best way to promote SDG 12 is through an absolute reduction in plastics. The stimulation and improved effectiveness of recycling are not sufficient and do not present a realistic solution to the plastic soup at this point in time.

Almost all plastic is made from fossil fuels, especially oil and shale gas. The production of plastic uses a lot of energy, and altogether, this accounts for approximately 10% of the global annual usage of fossil fuels: half for the production of plastic, the other half for fuel. That figure will rise to 20% in 2050 if we continue with the unlimited use of plastic. The reduction of CO2 emissions which would prevent an average temperature increase of two degrees is an extremely urgent environmental goal. The production and use of plastic have a smaller carbon footprint than alternatives such as paper and metal. But a choice for plastic driven by that consideration does not take the end-of-life damage that plastic causes to the environment into account.

The fourteenth sustainability goal is aimed at avoiding and strongly reducing the pollution in the sea, especially from waste that originates on land. Given the rough estimate that eighty percent of marine waste comes directly from land and the fact that we are dealing with billions of kilos of waste per year, it is obviously of great importance to achieve a reduction in the amount of plastic that ends up in the sea. Huge benefits can be reaped if effective waste collection systems are be put in place everywhere while, at the same time, the use of plastics is reduced. Cleaning up plastic from beaches and capturing the plastic at sea are important, but overall these efforts are of little help if the flow of plastic is not reduced at the same time.

Ecosystems in the sea and on land are threatened by (micro)plastics and chemical additives used. Plastic can suffocate, lead to animals not being able to consume enough food, make animals easier prey for other animals, make coral reefs sick, and much more. Significant reduction in plastics and microplastics will quickly lead to the recovery of ecosystems and biodiversity.