CAN WE EVER BREAK AWAY FROM PLASTIC AT ALL?

CAN WE EVER BREAK AWAY FROM PLASTIC AT ALL?

When people ask whether humanity can ever “break away” from plastic, my honest answer is simple: we probably cannot — but we certainly can stop using plastic for the wrong purposes. The real challenge is not elimination; it is intelligent substitution.

Plastic is both a villain and a hero. It is a villain when it is used once and thrown away, such as grocery bags, food wrappers, and disposable packaging that lasts minutes but pollutes the environment for centuries. Yet it is a hero in medicine, aviation, electronics, and public health, where sterile, lightweight, and highly durable materials literally save lives.

This is why I am proposing the creation of a joint government initiative — the Alternative Sustainable Packaging Options (ASPO) Task Force, composed of the DENR, DOST, DFA, and DTI. Instead of relying purely on regulations, the task force could function as a scientific advisory and economic diplomacy group that persuades industries to shift toward biodegradable packaging that is practical, affordable, and locally producible. If needed, I am prepared to mobilize the Roster of Scientists, Inventors and Engineers (ROSIE) to support such efforts.

The good news is that the “low-hanging fruit” already exists. Around the world, companies are producing protective packaging from mushroom mycelium and seaweed-based films that can replace Styrofoam and plastic sachets. Some of these materials decompose within weeks or months instead of centuries, while others dissolve harmlessly in water. The global market for biodegradable plastics and packaging continues to grow rapidly, driven by environmental pressure and government policies.

At the international level, more than 100 countries are pushing for a strong global treaty to reduce “avoidable” plastic waste, although negotiations remain difficult because some nations oppose production limits. These diplomatic deadlocks show that technology alone will not solve the plastic crisis; political will and economic incentives must move together.

Of course, there are sectors where plastics will remain indispensable for the foreseeable future. Hospitals depend on sterile disposable plastics such as syringes, IV bags, and surgical equipment. Modern electronics — including the phone or computer you are using now — rely on plastics as the safest electrical insulator. Aircraft efficiency also depends on lightweight polymer components. In these areas, eliminating plastic entirely may be unrealistic.

Because of this reality, science is shifting toward what I call biological circularity. Researchers are now developing enzymes and processes capable of breaking plastics back into their original chemical building blocks, allowing them to be recycled repeatedly without quality loss. This could eventually transform plastic from a disposable material into a permanently reusable industrial resource.

The real question, therefore, is not “Can we abandon plastic?” but “Can we manage it wisely?” I believe the answer is yes — if we adopt what might be called a Plastic Budget. High-grade plastics should be reserved for life-saving medicine, advanced technology, and essential infrastructure, while single-use packaging should gradually be replaced by biodegradable alternatives.

If we organize the right partnerships among government, industry, scientists, and international institutions, the transition need not be painful. It can even become a new economic sector — one that produces sustainable materials, creates jobs, and protects the environment at the same time.

We may never completely divorce from plastic, but with the right policies and innovations, we can certainly renovate the way civilization uses it.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/03-26-2027