Category Archives: Plastics

Speed and Scale–An Action Plan for the Climate Crisis

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I want to introduce you to a book by John Doerr, in collaboration with Ryan Panchadsaram. “Speed and Scale: An Action Plan for Solving our Climate Crisis Now” by John Doerr. I was skeptical at first. Yes, yes, we’ve heard these things.

However, Doerr is a Kleiner Perkins guy…familiar with funding, presentations, evaluations and strategies. He also knows about tactics–the work it takes to make things happen.

Years ago, when I was in the business world, I worked with plenty of people like Doerr. He speaks a language I understand. Charts, bullet points, clarity and simplicity. The task of climate resilience distilled down to 6 major tasks.

I could understand.

I read the entire book. While I was not terribly eager to read through the points of view of all the entrepreneurs, some of them have valuable insights. I can take a pass on John Kerry and Bill Gates…folks I’ve heard from before. But some of the others are worth a listen.

We don’t have the time to shuffle around in the muck.

This book finally, refreshingly, takes all the data and info and organizes it into a plan. A plan that is easy to follow, if not easy to implement.

Many will argue over aspects of it, especially those whose interest lie in maintaining the status quo. We don’t have time for those people. Get out of the way. We will accommodate those who will be affected, but if you cling to your old way of life, you will be left behind.

His main point is that there is so much investment and money to be made in cleantech. While we clearly don’t know who the winners and losers will be, we certainly know that there will be winners and losers.

The longer the U.S. clings to old ways and doesn’t adapt, the better the chance that China and others will run off with the resources we need to lead.

We have no choice but to get out in front.

The book is easy to process. Find your area of expertise or the place where you can contribute, if only in a tiny way.

And do it.

We need all hands on deck.

Plastics are the New Coal–Fossil Fuel Considers it Their Plan B

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In case you haven’t noticed, we are drowning in plastic.

And the fossil fuels companies want to make more, more more. In fact, they want to make so much plastic that it will outpace coal by 2030. Because coal plants will be down by 65%. And plastic is nothing but terrible for the planet. Before I give you some summary points, here’s a link to the new report from Beyond Plastics:

The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change

In 2020, the plastics industry generated the CO2 emission of 116 coal-fired plants…232 million tons of CO2. Big Oil is pouring billions of dollars into the manufacturing and distribution of plastics. It’s their Plan B.

–90% of the plastic industry’s emissions occur in Texas and Louisiana, impacting low-income communities the worst. Take a look at the map on the link above.

–Petrochemicals and fracking are used to create plastics.

–In 2020, the plastics industry’s reported emissions increased by 10 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of 2019. Construction is currently underway on another 12 plastics facilities, and 15 more are planned—altogether these expansions may emit more than 40 million more tons of greenhouse gases annually by 2025.

–The industry reports less than half of what it actually releases, according to the analysis by Material Research.

–Hydrofracking of plastics feedstock releases methane, a powerful climate change pollutant. By 2025, methane releases could reach 45 million tons each year, which is more GHG than was released by 22 average coal-fired power plants in 2020.

–Transporting and Processing Fracked Gases emits an estimated 4.8 million tons of methane each year, and planned expansion would add 4.7 million tons of GHG each year.

–Exports and Imports of plastics feedstocks and resins emit at least 51 million tons of GHG each year – equivalent to more than 25 coal-fired power plants.

–“Chemical Recycling,” a term used by the plastics industry to describe the processing of plastic waste into fuel, has barely begun, but by 2025, new capacity may cause the release of 18 million tons of GHG each year – equivalent to 9 coal-fired power plants.

The above stats and many more can be found in the report as well as in the press release from the report.

In addition, know that the top 5 plastics producers in the US are:

–Coca cola

–PepsiCo

–Unilever

–Nestle

–Proctor and Gamble

Maya Angleou said “When we know better, we do better.” Now that you know, what can you do better? Here are a few suggestions:

–Make sure you aren’t holding any fossil fuel stocks.

–Cut single use plastics out of your life.

–Make small changes. Do your purchase soap? Remember when soap didn’t come in a plastic container? It was a bar. Switch back.

–Think twice about everything…does food need to be stored in plastic? Will reusable natural mesh bags be ok? And the grocery store? How much packaging is there?

–Did you know that only 8.5% of plastic actually gets recycled? When we were taught REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, they weren’t kidding. But along the way we forgot all that. The first is REDUCE and it starts there. No plastic plates, no plastic forks, knives, spoons, cups. In fact, just use less. Just consume less overall. That’s what they mean by REDUCE.

–Finally, here’s a link to BeyondPlastics.org They have a documentary on their first page all about the story of plastics (many of us lived through it). But it’s full of fact sheets and info.

–If you need a quick video, Here’s a nice one that breaks it all down.

Now that we know better, let’s do better.