Which Plastics are Problematic? Use This Tool to Find Out

An Easy Cheat Sheet for Ending Plastic Pollution

Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it isn’t. Plastic pollution litters streets and clogs storm drains, but it also hides in food, drinking water, and even the human body. Understanding that plastic pollution is an emergency of planetary proportions is easy. Ending our relationship with plastic – not as much.

Plastic is a 700 billion-dollar industry that supports millions of families by creating stable jobs. The demand for plastic keeps growing and its economic value is indisputable. So how do we tackle plastic pollution without creating additional problems? The World Plastics Council, Plastics Europe, and the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) suggest we start with a decision tree.

Using the Decision Tree to Find Out Which Plastics are Problematic

A decision tree is a simple tool you can use to help you make a decision. It asks you a set of yes/no questions about your problem, guiding you towards a conclusion based on your previous answers. You may have tried decision trees before in the form of online quizzes or infographics.

Now, the ICCA with Plastics Europe and the World Plastics Council have developed a decision tree template for plastic products. The tool is designed to help governments worldwide identify problematic plastics and reduce pollution.

As you can see, the decision tree has three main sections. These relate to the three major topics (in order) that governments should think about when creating environmental policies around plastic.

Circularity
Circularity is about reusing materials as many times as possible to reduce the amount of waste we create. The first four questions of the decision tree share this theme. The best way to deal with plastic pollution is by reconsidering the design of plastic products. Ideally, everything we make from plastic should be reusable or easily recyclable.
Waste
When plastic cannot be recycled, it will become waste. This is not ideal, but there are ways to manage plastic waste responsibly. The second section of the decision tree considers the systems and infrastructure we have at our disposal for dealing with plastic waste and how we might improve them. Incineration and landfilling are not sustainable and should be considered temporary solutions.
Economy
Finally, we must consider plastic’s economic value. Reaching this stage of the decision tree means the plastic product cannot be made recyclable or reusable and cannot be sent to landfill. Plastics like these are highly problematic. The third section of the decision tree helps us interrogate plastic’s purpose in society and whether we can avoid using it altogether.

What is “Leakage” in Plastic Pollution?

The very first question of our decision tree asks us whether leakage is evident. Plastic leakage is how much plastic ends up in nature by “leaking out” of the formal waste management system. This can happen at all stages of the plastic lifecycle.

In manufacturing, for example, leakage can happen when the wastewater gets contaminated with microplastics. During recycling, plastic waste can fly off trucks and get washed into rivers by rain. There are many ways plastic can leak into nature and some plastic products are riskier than others.

This decision tree tool is designed to assess high-risk plastics, but it can be used for any plastic product. It is a universal guideline that policymakers can use as they see fit.

Using the Decision Tree to Assess a Plastic Product: Working Example

Let’s put the decision tree tool to the test with a familiar plastic product: polystyrene food containers. Leakage is evident thanks to their lightweight nature and pervasive use. Let’s move through the questions from section 1:

Q: Is it resource-efficient, reusable, and/or repairable?

A: No

Q: Is it recyclable and recycled?

A: Yes – polystyrene is 100% recyclable with a recycling rate of 31%.

From here, we can ascertain that polystyrene is not problematic, and we can work on recycling it instead of phasing it out. Try using the decision tree for another type of plastic to find out whether you should be supporting or avoiding it.

About the Creators of the Decision Tree Tool

The decision tree for plastic pollution was created by three groups that represent thousands of plastics manufacturers worldwide. It considers the entire life cycle of plastic products, from design and production to distribution and waste. Learn more about its creators below.

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) – represents 90% of chemical producers worldwide. The ICCA supports the global Alliance to End Plastic Waste.
Plastics Europe – represents plastics manufacturers that operate in the EU. Promotes circularity in the plastics industry and the “zero plastics to landfill” goal.
The World Plastics Council – facilitates discussions between plastics manufacturers and related bodies. Supports Operation Clean Sweep and other plastic waste-reduction pacts.

Putting the Plastics Decision Tree to Good Use

The decision tree above was designed by plastic producers and thus takes a manufacturing-friendly approach to the plastic pollution problem. Instead of suggesting outright bans on all plastics, it recognises the complexity of the industry and its value in society.

Plastics producers of all kinds – importers, manufacturers, etc – can use this decision tree to build a sustainable business that can meet the circularity demands of the future. It is an invaluable tool for extended producer responsibility (EPR), simplifying product design and waste management.

Contact eWASA today for more information about EPR and plastic packaging in South Africa.

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