Plastic Pollution and why Corporations suck! - Sophie Antezana

Peter Dauvergne delves into the microplastic pandemic in the article The Power of Environmental Norms: Plastic Pollution and Microbeads. He argues that environmental norms are strengthened and diffused quicker when there is scientific data showing that it causes harm. Especially when political/corporational resistance is relatively non-existent and there is an increase in activism, there tends to be an effective resolution of the problem, as seen with microbeads. However, regardless of the obvious progress to eliminate the dangerous microplastics, the process has been unequal among different parties. Firms look for loopholes, miss deadlines, and also limit the possibility for reform.

Comparing the situation to the logic of collective action, it is clear that local and even larger communities have been creating regulations to tackle the microplastic problem without attempting to assert complete control. However, the fact that companies specifically try to find ways around said regulations is reminiscent of the Tragedy of Commons. Arguably, it is understandable for a corporation to use the microplastics (microbeads, synthetic fibers, plastic bottles, etc.) to prevent cost of production from soaring, therefore keeping retail prices cheap. Yet when practically the whole industry uses it, the collective result of the “commons” is a polluted planet. But each company does not want to be the first to start implementing change, rather they await for a “free-ride” from other, more sustainable companies.

All that being said, Dauvergne brings up the point that since microplastics have grown into such a negative connotation, it compels corporations to start changing in order to maintain consumers legitimacy. Plus with added economic clauses of regulation, it overall will be a loss to the industry if they continue to use microbeads. As a result, within a decade there has been a 2% decrease of microplastics flowing into marine life, proving how crucial environmental norms can be to maintain our planet.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09644016.2018.1449090

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kip Redick Example of a Student's Choosing

  This is an example of a topic of the student's choosing.   During the summer of 2022, I attended an environmental encounters trip to Iceland with Dr. Kip Redick, Dr. Joe Balay, and 14 other students. It was a two week trip, but those short two weeks completely changed my life. I learned about more things than I thought was possible in 14 days, and I've never been more interested in learning before. It completely opened my eyes to a whole new perspective, on how the world should live, and what the environment should look like. Everyone was so kind, and they are the most environmental conservative countries.  While there, we did many different activities, including hiking on a glacier. It was so fun, but exhausting and kind of sad at the same time. It was obvious to see how much the glacier have had melted in the past years due to global warming, as there was a large glacial lake at the bottom with melted ice, and the glacier was all rock and sediment before w...
Read more

Kip Redick Example of an Outside Reading Post

 Recently I decided to give the renowned masterpiece by Jon Krakauer known as Into the Wild  another read. Needless to say I was just as heartbroken as the first time I read this novel/watched the 2007 film. I felt the need to discuss the work here simply because I feel it relates to a lot of discussions we have been having in class. I mean think about it, a young man sets out across the country to explore creation as it was intended to be experienced. As the story progresses, I remember being left with a sense of wonder, even thinking things along the lines of "I wonder would what happen if I just decided to do this one day?" I feel it's common knowledge how this story ends by now, with the main protagonist passing away alone in the wilderness, no one around for miles due to accidentally ingesting a poisonous plant. Although I have previously discussed how nature is God's most pure creation and should be treated as such, I feel I need to address a differ...
Read more

Kip Redick Student's Free Choice Example

  Here is an example which would be a free choice entry.    Since last semester, I have been on e-board for the Green Team at CNU. I am the sustainability and research chair and my role is to make campus more green and sustainability which is challenging because CNU tends to be stubborn and not want to change. Although I have been struggling to do my job and change things, I have gotten so much insight from the other Green Team members because we come from different customs and view points. We have bonded over our love for the environment and our need to change. We have our own rituals were we try to connect with nature through meditation, yoga, and reciting poems and sharing ideas. We have a big/little system called Oaks and Acorns in order for new members to know how the group works and become close to each other. Green Team is not dominated by one class, one religion, or one race. That is why I love this organization so much. We are all accepted and brought...
Read more