We live surrounded by plastic. It's so common in our lives that we barely notice it: packaging, clothing, electronic devices, medical materials, packaged foods, cars, toys... It's in everything. And it's no coincidence: plastic is an extraordinarily useful, cheap, lightweight, versatile, and durable material. But it also has a dark side that has become impossible to ignore.
Since its invention, plastic has revolutionized our way of life. It has enabled enormous advances in medicine, the food industry, construction, and many other areas. Its low cost and ease of production made it the star of the modern era. However, its durability is also its biggest environmental problem: it takes hundreds of years to degrade and has accumulated in oceans, rivers, soils... and even in our own bodies.
Currently, it is estimated that more than 60% of the plastics we use are single-use. This means they are used for a few minutes—sometimes even seconds—and then discarded, generating persistent waste for centuries. It's an unsustainable model.
In 2022, nearly 500 million tons of plastic were produced. If the trend continues, by 2050 we could reach 2.5 billion tons annually. This is exponential growth, driven by demand in developing countries and by industries that heavily depend on this material.
Most alarming is that only 10% to 20% of these plastics are actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or directly in nature. Microplastics—small particles resulting from their decomposition—have already been found in fish, drinking water, and even the human placenta.
A global agreement… that hasn't arrived
In 2022, more than 170 countries committed to negotiating an international treaty to reduce plastic pollution. It was a promising step, driven by the UN and supported by scientists and environmental organizations. However, progress has been slow, and concrete agreements are still conspicuous by their absence.
This year, 2025, diplomatic momentum will resume with new negotiations promoted by the United Nations. The goal is clear: to reach a binding global pact that limits the use of plastics and promotes sustainable alternatives. But the path is fraught with obstacles, especially due to pressure from some oil-producing countries, which see plastic as a way to keep their industries active.
The good news is that solutions do exist. The key lies in changing the production and consumption model:
. Reducing single-use plastic: bags, bottles, cutlery, unnecessary packaging... must be eliminated or replaced with reusable materials.
. Improving recycling: investing in more efficient technologies and selective collection systems.
. Innovation in new materials: bioplastics, compostable plastics, and other developments that can degrade without leaving toxic residues.
. Education and awareness: both governments and consumers have a role to play. Changing our consumption habits is crucial.
. Effective public policies: incentives for responsible companies, taxes on virgin plastic, selective bans, and stricter regulations.
The plastic challenge is one of the many environmental challenges we face today. And as in other cases, the solution is not technical, but political and social. Science has already spoken. We know what needs to be done. The difficult thing is ensuring that economic interests do not hinder change.
We still have time to reverse the situation, but we cannot continue to postpone decisions. We need real commitment, not just rhetoric. Because talking about plastic is good. But acting is urgent.
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