Covid-19 has led to a pandemic of plastic pollution

Article for the Economist. June 22, 2020.

Article for the Economist.

June 22, 2020.

As the world produces more protective equipment—and gorges on takeaways—pity the oceans. Consumption of single-use plastic may have grown by 250-300% in America since the coronavirus took hold, with causes including high use of personal protective equipment, increases in online shopping, and crashing oil prices making plastic cheaper and recycled plastic less appealing. As COVID-19 has scarred families and harmed livelihoods across the world, its effect on the planet will linger, too, in the world’s landfills and oceans.

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