In February 1909 the world entered a new era. A very clever chemist called Leo Baekeland announced that he had invented a new substance, made from various chemicals, that was light, strong, mouldable and resistant to heat and electricity.
Leo Baekeland had invented what we now call plastic. He called the new material Bakelite and it began a revolution in manufacturing. Soon all kinds of things were being made from the amazing new substance – from phones to radios, toys to car parts. Today, Bakelite is not so much used, having been supplanted by many newer and more versatile plastics; but Baekeland has been correctly described as the ‘father of plastics’ and it is impossible to think of the modern world without his revolutionary creation.
An appetite for plastics
Plastics weren’t widely used until after the Second World War. By 1950, 1.5 million tons of plastic were produced; 50 years later it had grown to 200 million tons per year. Today it stands at above 320 million tons a year. That’s a lot of facts and figures to take in, but put it another way - it is said that in the first 17 years of this century, we have produced more plastic than all the plastic produced during the whole of the 20th century.
There is no end to our appetite to produce plastic. But there are big problems with our use of plastic. The first is this - most plastic is produced to use in the wrapping and packaging of other goods - so we produce most plastic in order to throw it into the rubbish. But the second problem is this - plastic is often virtually indestructible.
It has been rightly pointed out that a disposable plastic coffee cup - maybe like the one you have in your hands right now - may have a service life of just a few minutes whilst you get your morning caffeine fix. But when you throw that cup into the rubbish, it will take anything up to 400 or more years to degrade. Often that plastic rubbish ends up in the oceans, polluting the sea and killing wildlife.
Draconian action
Efforts to control the use of plastics have had very mixed results - the recent 5p tax on plastic supermarket carrier bags has caused a massive decrease in their use; but it has also led to a huge surge in the demand for plastic bin liners. It is difficult to say if anything has really been gained as a result.
Overseas, some countries, such as Kenya, have taken draconian action to eradicate plastic bags by criminalising their manufacture and are proposing to criminalise the manufacture of plastic bottles; but the problem has been to provide cost effective alternatives.
Replacing plastic bags with paper bags, for example, opens up a whole new range of problems in terms of utility and sustainability. We fool ourselves if we imagine that the problem of plastics is easily resolved. But we can all see that we can’t continue making indestructible objects just to throw away. Action will have to be taken - and soon. What that will look like is difficult to comprehensively anticipate - but the eventual eradication of single use plastic objects seems like a good start!
As those who believe that we are commanded by God in Genesis 2:28 to steward His good creation, we should not turn a blind eye to the despoliation of the earth. Today, we can give Baekeland a hat tip for his very useful invention back in 1909; but let’s also give a bigger nod to the future and stop this very useful invention choking our planet to death.
Presbyterian minister, Rev. Dr. Paul Bailie, is chief executive of Mission Africa. Founded in 1887, the mission seeks to bring the Good News of Jesus to the people of Africa through pioneering evangelism, medical mission, theological education and the provision of Christian literature, especially for teaching. His blog is an abridged version of a ‘Thought for Today’ that was broadcast earlier this year on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme.