A comprehensive introduction to the plastics life cycle-the impacts on our lives, our future, and our planet-and the actions we can take.Everywhere we look, we are surrounded by plastics: perhaps you have a book in one hand and your phone-made of various metals, plastics, and glass-in the other, or you are reading this on your polyurethane mattress after having flipped on a plastic light switch. In this Essential Knowledge series volume, Imari Walker-Franklin and Jenna Jambeck provide a deep exploration of the entire life of plastic things-plastics production and use, plastic waste generation and management, the environmental and societal impacts of plastics in our environment, and, finally, the policies that can help reduce pollution caused by our heavy use of plastics. One of the most current and comprehensive summaries on the subject, Plastics covers not only ocean and terrestrial plastic pollution but also the potential harms of microplastics on the human body. The authors also explain why we use plastic for so many products, how trash ends up in even the most remote corners of our world, and the alternatives and interventions that can help address our overreliance on this virtually imperishable material. As easily digestible to read as it is important, this book empowers its readers with the crucial knowledge and information they need to make thoughtful consumer choices, influence change, and spark inspiration.

Series Foreword ix1 Introduction 12 Plastic Production and Use 113 Managing Plastic Waste 214 Discovery of Plastic Debris 415 Chemicals in and Associated with Plastic 516 Environmental Impacts of Plastic 617 Plastics' Impact on Society 738 Plastic Policies 839 Alternatives and Interventions for Plastic 95Glossary 115Notes 119Further Reading 127Index 129