[Consumer Climate Action Column] Stop the Threat of 'Microplastics' in the Climate Crisis Era

Eunjung Kim, Executive Director of the Consumer Climate Action Association

On December 10, 2020, the Government of the Republic of Korea declared the ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Vision.’

‘Carbon neutrality’ refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by fossil fuel use and other sources, and offsetting or removing the inevitably emitted greenhouse gases through forests, wetlands, and other means so that the net emissions become ‘zero.’

Accordingly, changes are occurring in various sectors, with the transition to a ‘plastic-free’ society being a representative example.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters will run a series of ‘Consumer Climate Action Columns’ to empathize with and participate in the plastic-free movement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become an opportunity to reflect on how insignificant and shameless the efforts for material wealth and social benefits pursued by humans have been.

South Korea, widely recognized as a developed country, might already be considered a superpower in pursuing convenience in daily life.

The convenience of receiving anything at your doorstep with just a few taps on an app installed on your mobile phone or a phone call is no exaggeration to say that it is based on plastic packaging.

According to the Ministry of Environment, the amount of plastic waste generated in the first half of 2020 was 848 tons per day, an increase of 15.6% compared to the same period the previous year. The surge in the use of disposable plastic containers due to COVID-19 also played a part.

Consumers enjoying this convenience do not feel entirely comfortable. Reports continue to emerge, such as over 800 kg of plastic waste found in the carcass of a whale washed ashore on the coast of France, or microplastics equivalent to 50 travel bags detected in a whale carcass found in Australia, which are enough to evoke feelings of guilt and discomfort.

According to a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), from 1950 to 2015, humanity produced approximately 8.3 billion tons of plastic. Of this, 75%, or 6.3 billion tons, was discarded as waste, and only 9% of the discarded plastic has been recycled.

Discarded plastic flows into the oceans, accounting for more than 80% of marine debris, and is identified as a major cause threatening marine ecosystems and human health. The plastic that enters the ocean breaks down through abrasion and weathering into small pieces, remaining as microplastics and causing secondary damage.

Moreover, microplastics discharged through household wastewater are polluting the oceans as they are not properly filtered at wastewater treatment plants.

According to a 2017 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the main sources of microplastics entering the ocean are: 1st, laundry of clothing (microfibers) at 35%; 2nd, tire abrasion at 28%; and 3rd, urban dust at 24%.

Scientists report that microplastics smaller than 5 mm, which are broken down into tiny particles and absorbed into the body, pose risks such as cell wall damage related to toxicity, intergenerational transfer, and brain development abnormalities. They also threaten marine microorganisms involved in large-scale carbon cycling, thereby affecting climate change.

As awareness of the plastic problem grows, voices from civil society demanding practical actions and policy measures are increasing.

According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Climate Action organization on policy proposals related to microplastics, over 96% of respondents said microplastics seriously affect our lives, and 95% answered that legislation to regulate or manage them is necessary.

Additionally, 94% expressed willingness to pay personally to install microplastic reduction devices in washing machines.

iCOOP Consumer Cooperative and Consumer Climate Action have been conducting the ‘NO Plastic Campaign’ with citizens to address plastic issues in response to the climate crisis, garnering support from over 300,000 people.

Based on widespread citizen support, last December, they publicly inquired about plans to install microplastic reduction devices to 16 major home appliance manufacturers producing washing machines, receiving positive responses from seven companies.

During the election period, they also questioned leading presidential candidates about microplastic and plastic-related policies and delivered policy proposals, confirming the policy intentions of the People Power Party, the Democratic Party of Korea, and the Justice Party, and achieving legislative cooperation and policy agreements.

The international community’s steps to respond to microplastic pollution have already begun. Washing machines equipped with microplastic reduction devices have been launched in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Turkey, and some countries have passed laws mandating microplastic reduction.

France mandates the installation of microplastic reduction devices in washing machines, and Canada has designated plastics smaller than 5 mm as hazardous substances.

In South Korea, although regulations banning the use of microplastics in five product categories?cleaners, removers, laundry detergents, bleaches, and fabric softeners?are enforced by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, specific legislation on hazardous substance designation, inspection standards, regulation, and support has not yet been established.

The problem of microplastic pollution cannot be solved without reducing plastic production and consumption. If an immediate ban is not possible, a phased plan to reduce production and consumption must be devised, and policies managing the entire process from production to consumption and disposal are necessary.

To this end, legislation such as a special microplastic law or amendments to related laws is required to support these efforts, along with research and development and introduction support for microplastic reduction technologies, and plans to support and foster innovative companies.

It is urgent to promote the development of plastic alternatives and establish systems for the circulation of recyclable resources such as paper packs, centered on local governments. The development and dissemination of recyclable and reusable packaging materials, along with education to raise public awareness, must also be carried out simultaneously.

The climate crisis that emerged alongside COVID-19 is not just our problem, and we must not waste time waiting for other countries’ examples. Rather than solving issues one by one like unraveling a tangled thread, simultaneous and multifaceted actions are needed.

Rather than fueling citizens’ anxiety and guilt about microplastics on our tables and relying on individual actions, the government must establish clear and effective systems, and companies need the will to actively respond to the rapidly changing international standards.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.