Plastic bottles pollute from production to incineration, invade seas and mountains, contaminate soils, air, food. Between now and 2050, production could triple, further exacerbating harmful environmental and health effects. To prevent the disaster, Greenpeace urges people to sign a petition aimed at calling for measures similar to those achieved by stopping single-use plastic tableware.
Plastic bottles, the global invasion
Those responsible for the unstoppable spread of plastic bottles are multinational corporations that produce food and beverages, as well as detergents and cosmetics: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Mondelēz, Danone, Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, and Mars.
According to Greenpeace USA’s recent report, these organizations publicly claim they want to reduce the damage by recycling and lightening plastics, but behind the scenes they brigade with the oil industry (supplier of the raw material) so that nothing changes. (1)
The under-the-table deals
The environmental association has reconstructed the links between the aforementioned multinationals and oil industry giants-ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron Phillips, Ineos, and Dow, for example.
‘We have evidence of the way they operate: while they collude to keep their production chain alive, they pretend to care about the environment and act to obstruct the passage of new laws to limit the use of packaging.’
Weapons of mass distraction
To protect business and continue to produce millions of bottles each day from oil and fossil gas, the two major players in this market pursue common business interests and act to condition policy.
The Greenpeace USA investigation reports on activities aimed at obstructing the introduction of new laws that would limit the use of packaging. And of a promotion of ‘chemical or advanced recycling’ projects proposed as solving but still on paper. Operations supported by lobbying efforts led by influencer groups such as the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, the Recycling Partnership, and the American Chemistry Council.
A signature to change course
In the absence of corrective action, plastic production could triple by 2050, having a lethal environmental impact on the goals of halving emissions and containing global warming to within 1.5 degrees by 2030.
In addition to improving one’s consumption habits, it is important to give Greenpeace the mandate to press institutions to reduce plastic consumption by encouraging the reuse of containers.
The petition can be signed at this link.
Notes
(1) Greenpeace USA.
The Climate Emergency Unpacked
. 14.9.21
See also previous articles:
https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/imballaggi/alternative-alla-plastica-la-denuncia-di-greenpeace
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
