plastic paradise transcript

My college age son thinks it is 'right on.' Well, you would imagine that when you take a garment off the rack and take it to the checkout counter, then this should go back. This is classic. What if its got a chasing arrow sign on it and you think that means its getting recycled? Dr. Patricia Corcoran, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario'Angela Sun spoke with all the right people and even went to places she wasn't supposed to go in order to present the full story on plastic pollution. Plastic films, plastic bags, the plastic wrapping that comes around a lot of packaged goods, that all goes into the garbage. ", Another said "there are no effective market mechanisms for mixed plastic. Do you think that because its not quite recyclable yet that that might be a little misleading? Sun, Angela (film director) // ]]> Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. The industry attitude was, "We'll set this up and get it going, but if the public wants it, they are going to have to pay for it.". The recycling system that we have at the moment, its not really recycling because some part of it exportedbeing exported all over the world to be "recycled," but you never know whether its really being recycled overseas or not. And when it comes to understanding and reducing the environmental impacts of materials, including packaging, consumers have the lowest amount of leverage. This is one of the easiest visualizations of how humans (not all, but many) have lost connection with the environment--a sad state of affairs--but the truth.' Thomas wouldnt sit down for an on-camera interview but agreed to talk on the phone. This poor sea turtle, a straw stuck in its nose, It would attract more than 35 million views. Big. Documentary. What makes our lives convenient is burying us. Literally me. The plastic industry that you were working with agreed to these and signed on to this report. Back in Oregon, I found one of these new technologies. One recycling company here caught our attention. In this independent documentary film, journalist/filmmaker Angela Sun travels on a personal journey of discovery to uncover this mysterious phenomenon. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. If youre in politics, youre in deep trouble with a 35% rating. Lead editor, Wendy Shuey; cinemtaography, Francisco Aliwalas [and 6 others]; music by APM Music [and 6 others]. I remember being a kid and watching those ads. Not a good idea for the Earth. 18 billion pounds of plastic waste end up in the ocean every year. They would just take the low-hanging fruits. We reached out to more than a dozen major plastic makers; the only one that would sit down with us was Chevron Phillips. The film is excellent--in its timeliness, its depth, and its presentation. This is a documentary that should be seen by educators, students, politicians, and environmentalists alike. That's just freaking. The producers know what the environmental impacts of these different formats are, but they don't disclose it. Some people have a deep, abiding respect for the natural beauty that was once this country. We flip it over. We reached out to the two recycling companies known locally as Harvest. New Harvestindo still wouldnt respond to us, and the other company denied it was behind the dumping. Plastic Paradise makes the issue of plastic pollution real and relevant. Dr. Mike SanClements, Staff Scientist, The National Ecological Observatory Network, Affiliate Faculty, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado-Boulder'Sun's documentary sends a clear and coherent message about one of the major environmental problems we face today. I think others were more hopeful. For the last 40 years, the conversation in this country has been about the recycle part of "reduce, reuse, recycle.". The smell of burnt plastic was in the air, and all around, there were sacks of plastic, and big piles, too. Itll be great. 2023 Docuseek, LLC All rights reserved. Plastic Paradise is another documentary on the topic of plastic waste and our oceans. I mean, for most states they did it in, recyclers didnt even know it happened. What we put in our recycling bins ends up in sorting plants like this one, outside of Portland. Reveals the history and worldwide scope of plastics pollution, investigates its toxicity and explores solutions. The film's haunting message highlights the importance of society transitioning to the existing truly biodegradable polymers wherever possible and as soon as possible.' Were they misleading the public? You can see from that corner to the end of that valley over there. Plastic Paradise is the first documentary to chronicle the rise, fall, and resurgence of tiki, or Polynesian pop, one of the defining cultural trends of postwar America. Most end up in the ocean, where they pollute the water and harm marine life; the rest are burned in garbage piles, where they release harmful dioxins into the atmosphere. They said that the chasing arrows symbol was OK, as long as it was small and on the bottom of packaging. Dr. Garen Baghdasarian, Professor of Biology, Chair of Life Sciences, Santa Monica College'Filmmaker Angela Sun tells a compelling story about the plethora of harmful impacts associated with non-degradable plastic, particularly in regard to the marine environment, while recognizing that the properties of plastic have enhanced our quality of life in many ways. We need to confirm if the data that we have is correct or not. Starring Angela Sun Wallace J. Nichols. Were working with other organizations to get the word out. So, contaminated plastic trash is as big a problem for you guys as narcotics and drugs coming into the country. Well, that is a challenge. This is just hangers, one type of plastic. We support, actually, the ACC goalsAmerican Chemistry Councilgoals of getting plastic waste out of landfills by, I think the date is 2040. Use and discard, and then this is where it all ends up. And on the day I stopped by, local lawmakers had been invited in to hear about the benefits of a new sorting machine that industry says will make recycling plastic more economical. JENNIFER BOADA-RODRIGUEZ, Senior technical associate, Colgate-Palmolive: So were here today to showcase our first-of-its-kind recyclable tube. But to get to the beach, the trash had to float through the water, which is where coral reef organisms would have encountered it. But it's not economical to recycle it given the current economics of recycling. Will Posegate is the chief operating officer of Garten. Were going into the office. Coy Smith ran recycling centers in Southern California in the 1980s and early '90s. The company has not been charged with any wrongdoing related to dumping. Ask students to predict what might happen if turtles or seabirds become less common in a coral reef ecosystem. Reveals the history and worldwide scope of plastics pollution, investigates, 2023 Docuseek, LLCAll rights reserved | Privacy Statement | Accessibility Statement, Angela Sun, consumption of plastics, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Midway Atoll, plastic, pollution, gyre, Pacific gyre, Midway Atoll, war in the pacific, history of plastics, plastics in war and peace, BPA, endocrine disruptors, Frederick vom Saal, John Klavitter, Matt Brown, Captain Charles Moore, Rikeem Sholes, Lewis Goldsmith, Arnold Schwarznegger, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Gerry Fishbeck, Brian Porter, Andy Keller, Rolf Halden, Wailana, Elizabeth Keenan, Gregor Hodgson, Susie Holst, Marcus Eriksen, Noel Mendiola, Annette Horman, Indie Carbo, dianna Cohen, Anna Cummins, Kitt Doucette, Dave Rastovich, Wallace J Nichols, Lisa Boyle, Julia Brownley, Gretchen Bleiler, Jack Johnson, Micah Mendiola, Daniel McGregor, Raquel Long, Matthew Long, Greg Stone, Peter Seligmann, Algalita Marine Research and Education, plastic nets, microplastics, albatross, indicator species, recycling, single use plastics, consumer power, American Chemistry Council, ACC, Society of the Plastics Industry, SPI, bag monster. It was a critical moment. Our newest CALI Award winner is Angela Sun - Storyteller, Adventure Traveller, Sports Lover. Industry would only switch to a triangle, which recyclers said was too similar to the chasing arrows. I highly recommend checking this film out!' That's a 3,000% increase in just a few short years. Plastic Paradise | Bullfrog Films: 1-800-543-3764: Environmental DVDs and Educational DVDs is a leading source of educational DVDs & videos, with a collection of over 700 titles in these main subject areas: Environment Globalization Sustainability Climate Change Social Justice Developing World Indigenous Peoples Earth Science Life Science Yeah. I strongly recommend this film as an instructional tool to connect ecology, communication, and global service. Polystyrene, PET, PVC, polypropylene. By doing so, this film will inspire young people to act as global citizens and contribute to finding solutions for the major environmental problems of the coming century.' Years later, we shut it down because there was no way to make money at it. Youre saying youve got plenty as it is? The fact that you now dont have to worry about dropping a shampoo bottle that was made out of glass on the bathroom floor because its plastic. I wanted to understand how we came to this moment; how the plastic industry has been able to thrive all these years in the face of a growing crisis and opposition thats now stronger than its ever been. How big can the trash get? In a highly controversial action, one county in New York state has voted to ban all packaging made of two kinds of plastic. Because the average person saw the symbol, they know the symbol and said, "Well, its recyclable, right?". Good stuff, easy to do. I think they knew that the infrastructure wasn't there to really have recycling amount to a whole lot. By 2050, its estimated that global production of plastic will triple. Earth Day was one of the largest mass protests in U.S. history. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. In small groups, explore the impact of ocean plastics on coral reef species by having students research the impact of ghost nets on sea turtles, the ingestion of plastic by Pacific seabirds, and the ingestion of plastic particles by coral polyps. [Speaking Indonesian] It depends on the condition of the bales. You know, I have looked at that picture and pondered that for decades. I would say that this package is rarely recycled in most parts in the country. It says it's recyclable. Sun, Angela (film producer) That kind of implies that thats where the responsibility lay. 08/08/2014. Step into the world of man-made materials that take up where nature left off. By 1987, a wandering barge called the Mobro became an emblem of the growing crisis. We call it Plasticstown USA. In the business, theyre called "mixed plastics. Brand-name companies that used plastic were facing bans on their products. 57 min. Amazing work!' How are those two things going to meet anywhere in the middle? Kyoko Hamada is a photographer who was born in Tokyo and lives in Brooklyn. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Park Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. The economics that are described there still prevail today and likely will prevail tomorrow. Then what? The voyage she completes can motivate students to discover more about pollution of all kinds on their own. This is it. LEWIS FREEMAN, VP, Society of the Plastics Industry, 1978-2001: A vice president of the DuPont company pulled me aside and said, "You guys better get up to Wilmington. But you're talking about couple of companies. In 2017, however, researchers surveying the islands beaches found the highest concentration of plastic trash ever recorded.In this infographic, the colored dots show the amount of plastic and other trash collected in one survey plot. I watched the film with some of my students so I can attest that it appeals to the younger generation. YUYUN ISMAWATI, Co-founder, Nexus3 Foundation: Yeah. Construction will eventually employ 6,000 people. It spent most of its money, millions and millions of dollars, on advertising. Were a not-for-profit. Can we afford, ecologically or economically, to turn it off or to leave it running? Students will learn the unexpected economic and ecological facets of plastic pollution and ways for each of us to minimize our plastic footprint. We follow Angela Sun while she investigates the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is where the plastic waste of three different continents accumulates. Starting in the late '90s, Bagaria and other recycling brokers had a one-word answer to the growing plastic waste problem: China. Let's do right by our future. Its going to be the largest plant of its kind in the world. She or he will best know the preferred format. Melati and Isabel Wijsen are on a mission to stop plastic bags from suffocating their beautiful island home of Bali. Have we made any progress? What once was glass will soon be plastic. No, it was not an accident. So, I understand that there's a lot of skepticism around that, because the systems today have not kept pace. and plastic bans are spreading across the country. Plentiful supplies of natural gas are driving down the cost of making plastic. Planetsave'Sun offers a fresh, new voice for her generation and has made a film that can appeal to the masses.' 640,000 tons. This is the first time youve ever seen companies from across the whole supply chain all coming together to say, "We need to fix this.". Carl F. Cranor, Professor of Philosophy, Faculty of Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California-Riverside'Plastic Paradise warns that the environment is everyone's responsibility, and that humanity cannot turn a blind eye to its own garbage forever. Angela Sun reveals the effects of our rabid plastic consumption as she investigates The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We have to separate paper, and then the metals and then the plastics. They are everywhere around this area. "Give me raw material"that's all they wanted. John Wesley Hyatt took up the challenge. You cannot download interactives. We took a trek up to Wilmington and this one DuPont executive, he said, "I think if we had $5 million"which seemed like a lot of money then"if we had $5 million, we could solve this problem.". One internal document from the Society of the Plastics Industry cautioned "the techniques of cleaning and separating the mixed plastics has not been developed for large scale economic application. I said everybody up here said they don't want the plant. Highly recommended.' Now the country is trying to clean up its image. Sun offers a fresh, new voice for her generation and has made a film that can appeal to the masses, "Chilling filmjournalist Angela Sun offers valuable new insights. At the bottom of all these plastic containers is this little chasing arrowthe little recycling symbol with a number. This is plastic that has no home, so it's your clamshells, Ziploc bags, film, a CD, a food wrapper. COY SMITH, Former board member, National Recycling Coalition: During that time, the plastics industry, they went around to states and they convinced those states to pass lawsand they did this very quietlythey passed laws that required that symbol with the number on it be put on plastic containers sold in that state. Not a good idea for the environment. It did a good job of doing what it was asked to do; it made life more efficient and easier. They want to sell more plastic containers. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Our system is woefully inadequate and it needs dramatic investment. This is our moment, California. Here's this flexible bag, and it's a plastic-metal laminate. Once again, the industry is pushing recycling. Dr. Joel Baker, Director, UW Puget Sound Institute, Professor and Port of Tacoma Chair in Environmental Science, University of Washington Tacoma'Angela Sun has found a way to present the imminent dangers of plastics pollution in a jarringly visual and inquisitive formatSignificant take-home messages include a misconception of just how few plastic products are recyclable, and that plastics production will continue to increase as long as the demand for plastic products remains. From packaging to clothing to home furnishings. The start of construction on that multibillion-dollar plastics plant. And theres nothing wrong in an industry promoting those kinds of things, but thats not addressing the problem that people are criticizing you about. Making recycling work was a way to keep their products in the marketplace. Dr. Chelsea M. Rochman, Smith Fellow in Conservation Biology, Marine Ecologist/Ecotoxicologist, Aquatic Health Program, University of California Davis'Plastic Paradise offers new and sharpened perspectives on the problem of plastics in the environment. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Thats right. This is an American city, a real community of homes and homemakers like thousands of others across the nation. And the numberthere's some words; it says, "1 PETE." ", Now youre getting more mixed plastics, like pouches andeverything comes in a clamshell now. How many discarded fishing nets are in oceans worldwide? Microplastics are invading our water supply. I met up with Yuyun Ismawati in a small rural community nearby. I think the chemical industry, and the plastics industry specifically, need to take very seriously this reaction thats going on. 2023 Plastic Paradise. Stuck with plastics they couldnt sell, Smith and other recyclers met with representatives from the plastic industry. Bagaria had come to make sure his plastic was actually being recycled and turned into tiny pellets that are used to make new plastic products. So the idea would be mechanical sorters pick out 11 billion K-Cups, right? Science tells us that we need to significantly reduce our use of materials overall, and yet for the most part, the policymakers are still focused with laserlike intensity on recycling. Along the way she meets scientists, researchers, influencers, and volunteers who shed light on the effects of our rabid plastic consumption and learns the problem is more insidious than we could have ever imagined. I mean, it says "sorts out the problems.". Recyclers also appealed to government regulators, but they sided with industry. LAURA LEEBRICK, Manager, Government Affairs, Rogue Disposal: What youre seeing happening right now isthats a full-sizethat's probably a 53-foot trailer. They wanted us to sort plastics when people thought plastics might be starting to be a problem. The group had a plan and turned to a veteran of the industry, Ron Liesemer, to execute it. A PLASTIC OCEAN. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. The voyage she completes can motivate students to discover more about pollution of all kinds on their own. If the public thinks that recycling is working, then they're not going to be as concerned about the environment. Angela Sun is an award-winning journalist, sports caster, and filmmaker. Dr. Kirk J. Havens, Director, Coastal Watersheds Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary'I believe that this film portrays the state of the plastic marine debris issue accurately. Soto, Tanya Leal (film producer). Film Review: Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Our member companies, SABIC and Shell and LyondellBasell, all of whom have made major announcements in traditional and advanced recycling to begin to intervene in that space in order to bring their scale, their technical know-how and their capacity to start providing products that are based on waste. But thats not what weve been told for decades, as the things we buy have been increasingly packaged in plastic. Science Documentary hosted by Ian Connacher, published by Bullfrog Films in 2009 - English narration [] Cover[] InformationAddicted to Plastic Addicted to Plastic is a documentary focusing on the worldwide production and environmental effects of plastic. ThermaSet is the future. So let's take a look at these blueberries. Kamilo Beach, located on the south-eastern tip of Hawaii's Big Island, has been dubbed one of the most plastic-polluted spots on the planet. As the film stated, plastic is the third biggest industry in the USA. Today the American Plastics Council unveiled the machine. We are the shipper of the scrap. It didnt make any sense. Plastic Paradise: A Swingin' Trip Through America's Polynesian Obsession: Directed by Brett O'Bourke. No. So, we dont think banning these products is necessarily the right way to go. "Some firms used it as a green marketing tool." You guys have been around for a long time. This is one of the easiest visualizations of how humans (not all, but many) have lost connection with the environment--a sad state of affairs--but the truth.' Lets be the ones that came together to change the world. Wed heard about an environmental activist whos been tracking what happens to the plastic coming into Indonesia. I think we were overly optimistic about the potential of recycling, and perpetuating that narrative led us astray. But the alternative is having plastic waste in the environment. Yeah, yeah. The most famous one, with the crying Indian. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. No, this is about all of us understanding that we each have a role to play in making the system that we have better and achieving the goals thatI think everybody would have to say we cannot continue with business as usual. The host takes a 2-year trip around the world to give us a better understanding of the life cycle of plastic It's . One of those companies is DuPont, and on the grounds of the first du Pont family home, I found the Hagley Library. Let me continue to use it. Allaway is a leading authority on the environmental impacts of materials, like plastic. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . They are going to double down on single-use plastic like we have never seen, so we're heading towards a real battle. What would happen if the corals died off? This floating ocean garbage is home to a surprising amount of life from the coasts. Some items, like soda bottles and milk jugs, are easier to recycle, so theres money to be made. It provides valuable information and presents that information in an engaging and visually gripping way.' There was never an enthusiastic belief that recycling was ultimately going to work in a significant way. This is the world we see. In this independent documentary film, journalist/filmmaker Angela Sun travels on a personal journey of discovery to uncover this mysterious phenomenon. And yet despite the backlash, the industry that makes plastic is expanding. The customs document we had said the company was getting plastic from the U.S. With no one from New Harvestindo willing to speak to us, we still wanted to know what they were doing with all those bales of plastic waste and whether it was all being recycled. This is my basic question, because it seems like everybody is buying lettuce in a box now. At Plastic Paradise's conclusion, the viewer is left pondering that the amount of plastic in the world will increase by 400% by 2050. It currently covers roughly 1.6 million square . We've got to fix the recycling system; clearly that's job one. Trace the history of the material that ushered in the "plastics century." Watch Think Dig Deeper Discuss Customize this lesson 403 Create and share a new lesson based on this one. There was an attitude that if your product was not recycled, then it should not be in the marketplace. They're not going to be able to continue to drill that oil and gas and burn it for energy anymore because the climate can't sustain it, so this is their lifeline. It needs improvement. Less than 10% of plastic has actually ever been recycled. Once in the ocean there is really no way to get it out, other than hope that it washes up on a shore and is collected. ", And this document was candid: There is serious doubt widespread plastic recycling can ever be made viable on an economic basis.. ", "Thoughtful new documentary by @sunnyangela examines the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, @plasticdise plasticparadisemovie.com #ppgp2", "Offers some alarming information that might cause viewers to think twice, about buying one-time-use water bottles. Because that's how big a demand of manufacturing was there in China. He told me he could take me to a place where the company had recently been dumping plastic. Oh, poor baby, Im sorry. [CDATA[ In 2015, a marine biologist came across a sea turtle in distress. It was manufactured. A growing backlash was threatening the future of plastic. Dont tell me thats a freaking straw. Conversely, plastics can also absorb pollutants, such as PCBs, from the seawater. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. The industry is not telling the public just to recycle. Here we are at our GDB South Brunswick facility. Until there is a viable option for recycling those things, we should be putting it in a landfill. The problem, recyclers said, is that it left the impression that all those kinds of plastics were actually being recycled. But they said, "Oh, you know what? Smokejumping is the pinnacle of wild land firefighting. And yet its become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. But by 1970, the plastic industry would have to confront the turbulent times of Americas environmental awakening. It just keeps getting better, doesnt it? Called me a piece of trash and swore thats all Id ever be. It is ultimately getting recycled. It holds one of the worlds largest collections of industrial history. When you get a bale of plastic, how much of that bale is plastic that the company wants and how much of it is stuff that is just plastic that youre not going to do anything with? Plastic Paradise engages students by illustrating how their everyday interactions with plastic are connected to pollution at the farthest, most exotic corners of the world. To the best of my knowledge there has been no life cycle analysis of plastic. And yet it's become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. Were going to have to invest in innovation, because some of these technologies still need to be further developed. We said, "Next time try recycling." What does coral treat? Liesemer was sent to Minnesota on an urgent mission. Sunil Bagaria is national chairman of the plastics division for ISRI, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. It includes a good history of the genesis of the plastics industry from materials shortages during World War II, and demonstrates that things put in the environment (such as a message in a bottle) can stick around for a long time and move great distances. On the bottom, it says "100% recyclable." Dr. Mike SanClements, Staff Scientist, The National Ecological Observatory Network, Affiliate Faculty, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado-Boulder'Sun's documentary sends a clear and coherent message about one of the major environmental problems we face today. And we sold that $1.5 million machine for scrap. We could ship scrap and hope that it is being recycled in the way it should be, or the other way is come here, see how serious he is about doing it the right way. What do you think? Busy lifestyles and a growing urban population mean an increase in demand for food that is fresh. There are a lot of different kinds of plastics that have to be sorted. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Trailer Angela Sun 01:58 Description Reviews Credits Cataloging Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. In what may be part of a national trend, the City Council of St. Paul, Minnesota, voted to outlaw the use of polystyrene plastics.

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