Buy-now-pay-later: Hazards to human and planetary health from plastics

More than 8 billion tonnes of plastic were produced between 1950 and 2015, that is 1 tonne for every man, woman and child on our planet. Global plastic production has been growing exponentially with an annual growth rate of 8.4% since 1950, equating to approximately 380 million tonnes per annum. A further 50 kg of plastic is now being produced for each person every year with production continuing to accelerate. Here, we discuss the human and planetary health hazards of all that plastic. We consider each step in the journey of these complex and pervasive industrial materials: from their synthesis predominantly from fossil fuel feedstocks, through an often-brief consumer use as plastic products, and onto waste streams as fuel, permanent landfill or as unmanaged waste in our environment, food, air and bodies.

Key Points

1. Global plastic production has been growing and has diverse and concerning effects on human and planetary health.
2. As consumers, we can ask where the plastic comes from, what is in it, and where it goes.
3. As health professionals, we can educate ourselves about the harms of plastic, and advocate for recyclable, safer plastic to rescue the health of future generations and of the planet.