Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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 reviews the current state of plastic use and pollution and considers new approaches to stem the tide of plastic waste.
0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Ubiquity of Plastics
2:29 - Overview
4:00 - Getting to the Root of the Problem
23:20 - Conclusion
24:12 - Q&A
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 reviews the current state of plastic use and pollution and considers new approaches to stem the tide of plastic waste.
0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Ubiquity of Plastics
2:29 - Overview
4:00 - Getting to the Root of the Problem
23:20 - Conclusion
24:12 - Q&A
