How we are solving the plastic pollution problem

Today I went to a beach clean up, but I got there in a diesel car. I gave up fish, but I still eat meat. I volunteered in the rainforest, but I had to use a plane to get there. The point I am making is that I am imperfect, and you, reading this, probably are too. That’s part of being human, we are imperfect. The point is that 1000 imperfect people, putting in effort, is better than 1 perfect human. I heard this quote, and it stuck with me. 

So often environmentalists, activists and scientists are accused of hypocrisy, they advocate for the reduction of carbon emissions and waste, however, more often than not, criticism of their own carbon footprint gets more attention than the important point they are trying to make. 

This morning I did actually attend a beach cleanup, in South Fremantle WA. It was run by ‘Saltwater Beach Cleanup, Western Australia’. As I went along the shore line, I didn't find much plastic on the beach, only small fragments of plastic, embedded into piles of seaweed. It is a good start that there was little plastic along the beachfront. After all, the CSIRO research discovered that there has been a 39% reduction in Plastic pollution in Australia’s coastal towns. This is a fantastic start to the fight against plastic pollution. Unfortunately, a lot more plastic was found hidden in the beach dunes, where snakes hibernate and birds nest. 

A photo from the start of the beach clean up in South Fremantle

This plastic waste was collected by fellow volunteers, and then taken to be recycled. There may not be much plastic pollution at that beach now, but it is only a few more waves until plastic washes back up, suffocating another seabird. 

Change on a consumer level is a big step. Taking your reusable shopping bag does make a difference. However, just like digging out weeds, we need to start at the root of the problem. We need to produce less and recycle more. 

This shift is happening, with more companies than ever creating products out of recycled plastics. Such as Sungai Design, turning Bali’s river waste into furniture. Recycledin also makes homewares and jewellery out of recycled plastic from landfill in Greece. The Australian start up Samsara Eco, that can remanufacture plastics from recycled plastic. This technology provides a profitable alternative to virgin plastic. 

The sunglasses that you wear are even made from recycled plastic by Ugly Fish, and Good citizens. Another summer essential made out of recycled plastic are the Harti Swimsuits. 

I wash my clothes, and I hope you do too. The problem is many of my clothes are made out of polyester, nylon and elastane, which are all composed of plastic, and with every wear and wash, microplastics leech into the water system, as there is no filter for them in the washing machine. Arguably, I could donate these problematic plastic clothes, but that would just lead to landfill, further contributing to the pile of plastic pollution. 

Washing our clothes is the main antagonist, as it is the largest attributor to microplastics ending up in our water systems, oceans, then seafood, and eventually our brains. 

Microplastics are clearly a growing danger; to our ecosystems, environment and our personal health. So a group of engineers in Cleveland came up with the solution - Cleanr Vortx - a microplastic filter attached to your washing machine. The used water goes through the filter, the filter biomimics fish gills, trapping the microplastics, and releasing water that is plastic pollutant free. Currently this technology is attached to washing machines, and available for you to buy. Although in the near future, I would like to see this technology incorporated into a washing machine, so that the prevention of plastic pollution occurs automatically. 

If you’re worried about wearing microplastic leggings, Panagia makes activewear out of natural fabrics. So you can spend more time working out, and less time worrying about the health and environmental destruction of microplastics. 

Plastic is fantastic in that it is a hygienic, flexible and cheap resource. The use of disposable medicine has probably improved the sanitisation of many instruments, improving the health of millions. Therefore, a complete elimination of plastic is not suitable. Instead we need to improve filtration, consumption and recycling solutions. To push for more recycled plastic, and less virgin plastic. The innovation occurring today to tackle plastic pollution is fantastic, but it will be even better tomorrow, as we keep inventing solutions to the global health and environmental destruction caused by plastic pollution. 

We are all imperfect, but the effort and innovation taking place is creating a positive change that we can all be part of.