Article Written By: Jason Kyungjin Park
The G20, an international forum in which governments and governors come together to address global issues, has announced its goals regarding ocean plastic waste. Such decision was brought to the forefront in response to the worsening levels of plastic pollution in the marine ecosystem as a result of the expanding petroleum industries in Asia. As such a situation implies, industrial development has yet again posed a threat against marine life and well-being in general.
Japan announced that it would prioritize the agenda of G20 to tackle the worrisome levels of plastic debris in the oceans. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan has publicly displayed interest in the development of biodegradable and other innovations to efficiently reduce marine plastic trash.
While the EU has voted to outlaw 10 single-use plastic items, such as straws, forks, and knives by 2021, plastic debris-strewn beaches and the death of countless marine life indicates the severity and magnitude of the problem at hand. The oil industries in Asia are producing plastics at unprecedented levels and other petrochemical products that are contributing massively to plastic contamination.
Japan has taken such initiative as they are the world’s second-largest consumer of plastic packaging per person. While they are not a major marine plastic polluter, Japan has been tackling such issues through the passing of laws that require retailers to charge customers for plastic bags--a common law that is being passed around many countries. The drawbacks of such law, however, exists with the magnitude and its impact only upon consumers from supermarkets. Activists have claimed that efforts to reduce plastic production are essential as well as the encouragement of recycling and stronger banning of single-use items.
An economic problem exists with regards to the revenues of companies. A Korean manager at a petrochemical industry claimed that if the world continues to introduce bans on plastic bags and straws, revenues and sales would decrease dramatically over time. This suggests that maybe the ban on plastic production is not the answer or, at least, not realistic. Rather, it may be a better and more suitable option to pursue and endorse the production of environmentally friendly materials and plastics. Furthermore, the replacement of plastic with other materials would not necessarily mean that environmental destruction would not ensue. In fact, Japan’s petrochemical industry stated that the replacement of plastic straws would essentially indicate the need for greater wooden straws, implying large scale deforestation.
As such, the problem of banning plastics is not a mere process that can be enacted. Its social, economic, and political implications have to be considered in order to bring about the most desired and effective outcome for all.
Bibliography (MLA 8 FORMAT):
Website Citations:
Website 1:
Kyodo. “Japan Aims to Reach Deal at G20 Summit to Reduce Amount of Plastic Waste Entering Oceans to Zero by 2050.” The Japan Times, 1 June 2019, www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/06/01/asia-pacific/science-health-asia-pacific/japan-aims-reach-deal-g20-summit-reduce-amount-plastic-waste-entering-oceans-zero-2050/#.XQSjG9MzaRs.
Website 2:
PlasticsEurope. “Plastic Makers Support G20 Efforts to Reduce Marine Litter.” PlasticsEurope, 2017, www.plasticseurope.org/en/newsroom/press-releases/archive-press-releases-2017/plastic-makers-support-g20-efforts-reduce-marine-litter.
Photo Citations:
Photo 1:
Foster, Malcolm. “G20 To Tackle Ocean Plastic Waste as Petrochemical Producers Expand...” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 13 June 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-g20-summit-plastics/g20-to-tackle-ocean-plastic-waste-as-petrochemical-producers-expand-in-asia-idUSKCN1TE0QJ.