LIVE - Plastic Pollution: Getting to the Root of the Problem

Plastics have become ubiquitous in the global economy because they are so useful. They are cheap to produce, flexible to design, sanitary, and easy to transport. Unfortunately, they also have become an enormous burden on waste management systems, generate carbon emissions throughout their lifecycle, and are hard to recycle. They have become a global "wicked problem" with links to climate change, health impacts, and other challenges. Despite these liabilities, plastic production is expected to continue to grow, perhaps quadrupling in the next three decades. Professor Dan Vermeer will review the current state of plastic use and pollution and consider new approaches to stem the tide of plastic waste.