Why are the sustainability people so against plastic?

There is certainly a long story here, and I will write a blog with all the details and nuance, but in the meantime, here is the short story: I do believe that the sustainability people are justified in their concerns when it comes to plastics, and it is worth making an effort to search for alternatives, especially when it comes to consumer items that we know will have a short life…like birthday party supplies!

Complaints about plastics include:

(1) the fossil fuel-intensive manufacturing process (plastics are made out of petrochemicals);

(2) the fact that most end up in landfills instead of being recycled, even if you put them into the recycling bin (only 9% of plastics were recycled in 2018 according to the EPA);

(3) how adept plastics are at escaping into the environment and wreaking havoc on wildlife (remember the camels with plastic bags in their stomachs?);

(4) the damage to human health and the environment caused by many waste treatment facilities in the developing world that recycle plastics from the US under limited regulatory oversight; and

(5) the potential health implications of using so much plastic in day-to-day activities (concerns about hormone imbalances or cancers related to chemicals leaching out of plastic bottles and containers, for example).

We know that the disposable plates and utensils and sometimes decorations and favors that we buy for birthday parties will be tossed after very brief use, and when you think about all of the energy that went into creating those bits of plastic (literally) and all of the space in our landfills that is already being occupied by plastic, it seems like a poor use of all that energy and space (all those nonrenewable resources!). For alternative suggestions for your birthday parties, please see the FAQ about reusable party supply materials and take a look at the party favor packages for sale on our website.