Earth Day 2024: Planet vs. Plastic

As we commemorate Earth Day 2024, the spotlight this year is on the pressing issue of plastic sustainability. The theme for Earth Day is “Planet vs. Plastic” underscoring the alarming reality of our times –  the era of plastic pollution. Plastic has become a ubiquitous material that has redefined our material culture and the artifacts that we will leave behind. It’s no surprise that our current period has been described as the ‘Plastic Age’ since we produce over 400 million tons of plastic waste every year, with less than 9% of it recycled globally.

This year’s Earth Day focuses on the pressing need to strike balance between our planet and the ever-present threat of plastic pollution. The goal is ambitious: urging the United Nations and Governmental Organizations to commit to a Global Plastic Treaty. This treaty aims to establish unified standards and regulations to combat plastic pollution effectively.

The 60X40 Commitment: A Call for Plastic Sustainability

Central to this year’s Earth Day agenda is the 60X40 commitment. This initiative seeks to end plastic pollution by targeting a 60% reduction in all fossil fuel-based plastic production by 2040. Additionally, it advocates for holding plastic producers accountable for environmental and health-related damages, aligning with the “producer pays” principle.

Plastic, not so Fantastic? What statistics call into question plastic sustainability?

In 2023, the first-ever Plastic Overshoot Day was recorded globally. This is the day of the year on which the amount of plastic waste produced globally surpasses the world’s ability to manage it effectively, with environmental leakage and pollution therefore occurring as a result (Read: What is Plastic Overshoot Day?). By tracking this date the vision is to more clearly define and understand the plastic sustainability problem, and hold governments, businesses and individuals to account for their role in contributing to it.

This year, the global Plastic Overshoot Day is predicted to fall on the 5^th of September 2024. What this means, in reality, is that there are 117 days each year where we produce more plastic than our planet can handle, meaning this excess waste will end up polluting our environment. For instance, it is estimated that 8 million metric tonnes of plastic waste enters the ocean every year, compromising Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, life below water (Read: Waste Management and the Sustainable Development Goals).

The environmental challenges associated with plastic pollution are well documented, but what about the health implications? Plastic pollution presents a grave threat to human health. As plastics break down they form microplastics, which can release toxic chemicals into our food, water sources and even the air that we breathe. Plastic has permeated every corner of our environment, even infiltrating human bloodstreams. A recent study has shown that microplastics have even been detected in the human blood.

With 220 million tons of plastic waste forecasted for 2024, and plans to increase production there is an urgent need to rethink and address our relationship with plastic and specifically single-use plastics which forms majority of the use (Read: Plastic Free July Tips for Business)

Is there hope for Plastic Sustainability?

While there is no doubt that plastic has many valuable uses, the challenge is that as a society we have become addicted to single-use plastic products — with severe impacts on our planet and human health.

At Don’t Waste, we advocate for intercepting waste at its source. While recycling plays a role, the global recycling rate for plastic remains dismally low, at less than 9% showcasing that there is not capacity to recycle our way out of this challenge. We need to act further up the waste hierarchy to avoid and reduce plastic in the first place. To tackle this challenge, we must transition from a linear “take, make, and waste” model to a circular economy that prioritizes resource efficiency.

Here are three ways we’re committed to helping our clients reduce their waste footprint:

• Plastic Recycling: In 2023, we recycled 4 567 697 kilograms of plastic, contributing to the circularity of resources.
• Data-Driven Waste Management: Our innovative waste management system provides clients with transparent insights into their waste disposal process, ensuring accountability and sustainability.
• Sustainability Consulting: We’ve launched a dedicated sustainability consulting to guide clients on their holistic sustainability journey. Green Gap Consulting are geared to help businesses close the gap between sustainability intentions and actions.
• Our Zero Waste Foundation conducts regular clean-up initiatives to combat plastic pollution and preserve our environment. Just this past weekend, in celebration of Earth Day we supported clean-up drives at Milnerton Lagoon in Cape Town and the Bluff in KwaZulu-Natal.

For us, Earth Day isn’t just a date on the calendar – it’s our daily mission to protect the environment. As we celebrate Earth Day 2024, let’s partner together in the fight against plastic pollution. Together we can achieve more by embracing sustainable practices, minimising waste, and creating a healthier, greener future for generations to come. Join us in choosing the planet over plastics, today and every day.