Packaged Up in Plastics

Richard Thompson (now of Plymouth University), in a short 2004 paper co-written as a PhD student, was first to use the term 'microplastics'. He's gone on to be now labelled 'the godfather of microplastics' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/13/godfather-microplastics-richard-thompson-how-to-stop-them). Thompson opines that the microplastics problem really began in the 1950's, when plastics started to be widely used for single-use packaging. Currently, 40% of the more than 400m tonnes of annual plastics production, is used for this purpose. Only 10% of plastic is actually recycled and 8m tonnes finishes up in the oceans. Thompson notes that microplastic particles absorb harmful toxins and pathogens, before being ingested by marine organisms. He warns that the development of 'biodegradable' plastics is not an answer. 'Biodegradables' often need special conditions (not found in the environment) and years to fully degrade. Thompson also says that 'cleanups' on the shores and at sea, are also not a solution. He worries that people may become complaiscent by such 'technofixes'. Thompson maintains that we really need to produce less plastic, to stand any chance of limiting impacts of these tiny, ubiquitous particles.