Atlas

Plastic Atlas Asia Edition

Facts and figures about the world of synthetic polymers
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Plastic is ubiquitous: we use it for life-saving medical devices, clothing, toys and cosmetics; we use it in agriculture and industry. But we also know the growing risk of plastic waste in the environment, landfills and the oceans.

For example, the amount of plastic that some fulmars accumulate in their stomachs during their lives is equivalent to 31 grams in humans - that would be a full plate. But although awareness of the negative consequences of plastic is growing, we are experiencing an unbroken boom in plastic production. 99 percent of the plastic is produced from fossil fuels; the climate-damaging emissions involved are enormous. And only nine percent of all plastic thrown away since 1950 has been recycled; instead, huge amounts of our plastic waste end up in dumps in Asian countries every day.

We have only just begun to understand the huge dimensions of this crisis. A change of course requires in-depth knowledge of the causes, interests, responsibilities and effects of the plastics crisis. The Plastics Atlas Asia Edition wants to offer exactly that in 20 chapters.

You may find a Japanese translation here and a Korean translation here

Product details
Date of Publication
April 2021
Publisher
Heinrich Boell Stiftung Hong Kong office, in cooperation with Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Number of Pages
52
Licence
Language of publication
English
ISBN / DOI
978-988-75619-0-3
Table of contents

IMPRINT

INTRODUCTION

12 BRIEF LESSONS ON PLASTIC AND THE PLANET

HISTORY: A PLASTIC PANDORA'S BOX

THROWAWAY CULTURE: A WORD WALLOWING IN WASTE

USAGE: FROM A BLESSING TO A CURSE

HEALTH: HARMFUL AND PERSISTENT

GENDER: UNEQUAL EXPOSURE

FOOD: TASTY PLASTIC MORSELS

CLOTHING: CHEAP CLOTHES THAT COST

TOURISM: BLUE SKIES, WHITE SANDS, AND PLASTIC

CLIMATE CHANGE: A PROBLEM FROM BEGINNING TO END

WATER: FROM THE RIVERS TO THE OCEANS

CORPORATIONS: SHIFTING THE BLAME

AFFLUENCE: THE CHILD OF GLOBAL TRADE

“BIOPLASTICS”: REPLACING OIL WITH SUGARCANE AND CASSAVE IS NO SOLUTION

WASTE MANAGEMENT: WE CANNOT RECYCLE OUR WAY OUT OF THE PLASTIC CRISIS

WASTE EXPORTS: THE RUBBISH DUMP IS CLOSED

WASTE PICKING: UNDERPAID AND UNVALUED

REGULATION: A FRAGMENTED RESPONSE

CIVIL SOCIETY: TAKING UP THE BATTLE FOR A PLASTIC-FREE ASIA

ZERO WASTE: CLOSING THE LOOP

PLASTICS AND COVID-19: THE DETRITUS OF A PANDEMIC

AUTHORS AND SOURCES FOR DATA AND GRAPHICS

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