The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic increase in plastic consumption globally, due to the need to safeguard ordinary people and communities from virus transmission The result, however, is a huge dependence on disposable masks, syringes, gloves, and other PPEs. We have so much medical plastic waste lying around – plastic syringes have even been found on beaches, posing public health issues in these areas,

To add insult to injury, strict lockdowns and quarantine measures have led to an uptick in food delivery and e-commerce, furthering the use of plastic utensils, cups, and plastic bags in the Asia Pacific. Coincidentally, lockdowns and strict quarantine measures have also weakened waste management regulations and led to the suspension of bans on single-use plastics in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Governments, businesses, and ordinary citizens alike have justified switching back to disposables and plastics because of hygiene. Since plastic packaging can be disposed of shortly after consumption, it is generally perceived to protect the consumer from virus transmission. But this is a misconception.

The plastic and petrochemical industries work together to capitalize on the narrative that food and other goods are safer when wrapped in plastic. They have used this angle to spread misinformation, halt single-use bans and regulations, and stoke demand to boost their plastic production exponentially.

Misconceptions on plastic safety

Indeed, during a medical crisis, public safety is of utmost importance. However, our decision-making must be based on expert opinion from medical professionals. Last year, scientists, academics, and doctors released a statement declaring that reusables are safe even under pandemic conditions, so long as they are washed properly. 

The science is clear. Plastic is not any safer than reusable alternatives in terms of protecting us from COVID-19 transmission. According to research, the coronavirus survives for two to three days on plastic, almost the same time as on steel, and for 24 hours on cardboard. Across numerous COVID-19 studies, human-to-human contact (through touching or coughing) will more likely transmit coronaviruses than “infrequently handled reusable grocery bags.” A study even went further and claimed that “in terms of single-use options, paper bags at the checkout may be incrementally safer than plastic due to shorter SARS-CoV-2 half-lives on their porous materials.”

Aside from COVID-19, plastics are particularly hazardous to the environment and human health. According to the recently released UNWRAPPED Project report, “many of the chemicals used in plastic packing to achieve the ideal flexibility, coloring, fillers, and durability to preserve food can have adverse effects on the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.” Moreover, environmental health and toxicology experts agreed that the same chemicals found in plastic packaging can transfer into the food we consume and beverages we drink, which can cause chronic diseases or interfere with reproduction and development. The verdict now stands that plastics might actually do more harm than good. 

Must Read

The decade of sustainability: How can PH end its plastic crisis?

Oil’s second life with plastics

But why is there still so much plastic? With the pandemic halting oil consumption and ushering in a record-low drop in oil prices, oil companies are now covering their losses by leveraging plastic production. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that the petrochemical industry will account for half of the oil demand growth from now to 2050.

Plastics are not commonly associated with climate change, primarily because it is a lesser known fact that 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions throughout their life cycle – extraction, production, use, and disposal. Moreover, most chemicals needed to produce plastics are sourced from fossil fuels. The global carbon dioxide emissions from plastics are estimated to reach 1.34 gigatons by 2030, equivalent to close to 295 coal-fired power plants. If planned plastic production persists, annual emissions will consume at least 10% of the carbon budget and overshoot the 1.5 degrees Celsius target.

Must Read

Communities bear the weight of the Philippines’ plastic waste problem

Recycling industry takes the hit

Recycling, often considered the silver bullet among top plastic producing companies for solving plastic pollution, has been severely affected by the pandemic. The decline in oil prices has caused a reduction in plastic value, making new or virgin plastic production attractive. Limited operation from quarantine measures have also caused financial troubles and threatened recycling across the entire Asian region. Companies now find replacing segments of their packaging or products with recycled plastics less viable.

Similarly, waste pickers have been one of the sectors most vulnerable to the pandemic. Despite working on the frontlines to keep communities litter-free, most waste pickers are still part of the informal economy. Waste pickers account for 15-20% of waste collection globally and turn discarded reusable and recyclable wastes into value. With such significance, waste pickers are considered the backbone of plastic waste management. Yet, waste pickers are often left without adequate protective gear or end up unemployed from the lockdowns, with limited recycling operations relying on government relief.

The life cycle of plastic has a manifold impact on both human health and the environment. As countries are slowly transitioning towards just recovery, one of the many lessons we should learn is how the plastic industry has placed itself on the wrong side of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we celebrate Earth Day, we must remember to hold this industry accountable for compromising the environment and climate in a time of global crisis. – Rappler.com

Janssen Calvelo is a member of GREENducation Philippines and Climate Reality Philippines.