#not trying to start a fight here
So, there’s apparently research coming out now about microplastics being found in people’s bloodstreams and the possible negative effects of that and I feel the need to get out ahead of the wave of corporate sponsored “be sure to recycle your bottles!” or “ban glitter!” campaigns and remind everyone:
It’s fishing nets. It’s fishing nets. It is overwhelming fishing nets It always has been fishing nets.Unless regulations are changed, it will continue to be fishing nets.
The plastic in the ocean in largely discarded nets from industrial fishing. The microplastics are the result of these nets breaking down. The “trash islands” are also, you guessed it. Mostly fishing nets and other discarded fishing industry equipment.
Do not allow them to continue to twist the story. Do not come after disabled people who require single use plastics. Do not come after people using glitter in art projects and makeup. These things make up a negligible amount of the issue compared to corporate waste, specifically in the fishing industry. Do not let them shift the blame to the individual so they can continue to destroy the planet and our bodies without regulation.Industries are incredibly resistant to taking responsibility for their own waste, to the point where “consumers are responsible for industrial waste” is somehow considered a sensible, ethical, worthy sentence.
It is actually perfectly reasonable to say that “industries are responsible for industrial waste” and “the effects of industry can, should and must be fixed by industry” and “Industry can, should and must be held responsible for its impacts on the commons, such as air, water, oceans and land.”
I think it’s not very helpful to look at this in terms of blame tbh. It’s also a bit misleading. The WWF says that fishing gear accounts for roughly 10% of plastic waste in the ocean. And this article goes into more detail, but says that fishing gear accounts for most macroplastics, not microplastics. If most microplastics came from fishing nets in the ocean, it wouldn’t make sense that babies have overwhelmingly more of it in their bodies these days than adults. It does make sense if you consider that most of the microplastics we’re exposed to comes from fabrics and plastic toys and food utensils, and babies put everything into their mouths anda lot of the things babies use/wear are made of plastic.
Encouraging people to avoid microplastics is not, or should not be, about blame at all. It’s about your own health and, if you have a baby, about their health. Plastic in the ocean is also a huge problem, but having a ton of polyester and acrylic fabrics in your house, constantly using plastic utensils, etc, is going to directly affect you more. It’s in your own best interests to avoid it.
Also: if you want industries to be held accountable, you have to encourage more awareness and consumption changes among consumers. Because at the end of the day, companies will do what’s profitable. And if consumers want sustainable options, and choose non-plastic products over plastic products, the industry will change. It’s already happening. The reason why we’re seeing a (slow) swing to more sustainable options is becausethere’s a market demand and companies know that. If everyone buys the eco-friendly glitter, they’ll stop making the other stuff, and the eco-friendly version will become more affordable.
Are we responsible for their choices? No, of course not. It’s not our fault what companies do. It’s just that, if you want something to actually change, you generally have to dosomething. And again, in this case, it also means avoiding things that have a negative impact on your health, and it’s entirely within your power to do that, regardless of what any industry does. Trying to avoid poisoning yourself is a good idea even just on a personal level.
It’s not about blame and it shouldn’t be. No, do not go after disabled people, don’t go after people at all. Don’t let it become about blame. But maybe encourage the use of environmentally-friendly glitter? Be aware, and help make others aware, of the dangers of microplastics in the home, and the alternatives that exist? Let’s not simply write off everything we do and say “eh it doesn’t matter” because it does matter. It can and does make a difference, to you directly and also, when enough people do it, to the situation in general.
