Assessing the Impact of Plastics

The impact of plastic on the environment has been largely assessed using life cycle assessment. The manner in which these assessments are carried out and the criteria used vary significantly such that different LCA on the same product can come to different conclusions about the environmental impact. Beyond the impact of plastic products on the environment, this chapter looks at the impact on the environment if plastics were never produced or if they stopped being produced. The current problem posed by plastics is a result of the way plastics have been used. Such that if we are to consume other materials in the same manner we consume plastics, these materials would also pose a serious environmental threat, maybe worse. Therefore, the plastic problem is a consequence of a consumption problem. A broader approach to assessing the impact of plastics ensures that the problem is not shifted from one material to another without achieving any real sustainable solution.