Sixty-five percent of the global textile market is now made of synthetics like polyester and polyurethane.
This is a problem. These synthetic materials are plastics made from fossil fuels and treated with hazardous chemistries.
None of this is good.
Plastic is the petroleum industry’s plan B. As renewables weaken fossil fuel’s grip on the energy market, plastic demand is projected to nearly double in G20 nations by 2050. By 2050, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from plastic production and consumption are estimated at 56 gigatons, ~10-13% of the world’s remaining carbon budget.
On a nearly weekly basis, we learn about new toxicity and health concerns for the largely unprobed impact of microplastics and the hazardous chemistries (e.g., antimony and BPA) used in plastic manufacturing. It may take decades to understand the true scope of the health implications of the petro-based material economy.
But we don’t need to wait decades—in fact, we can’t wait decades—to do something about it.
We already know that plastics harm the Earth at every step—from 1) the extraction of fossil fuels to 2) the high-energy costs of plastic production, and 3) the continuous shedding of toxic microplastics throughout manufacturing, normal use, and end-of-life.