Plastics, based in Spain, is a kind of communication platform representing European plastics producers.
“The main goal of the platform is to publicize the sustainable solutions that plastic offers to society,” they write.
“Our aim is to highlight the many economic, technical, social and environmental advances that this unique material has made and continues to make it possible.” In other words? The mission is to dispel any negative connotations of plastic.
And so they launched this publicity stunt: the Plastic Museum, juxtaposed.
What is it made of? Joke.
It is a temporary structure made of “you know what”, placed outside the Spanish National Museum in Madrid.
Its expected duration is only ten days: it opened last Saturday, and will be demolished on May 17 (World Recycling Day). To do what? Obviously to recycle it, right? And remind the public that all of this is recyclable. 100%, too!
All nice, all plastic, BUT
Plastic is a wonderful material, and it's wonderful that it is TECHNICALLY recyclable.
The problem is that the vast majority of this material is never recycled. According to National Geographic, which cites a global study by the scientific journal Science Advances, only 9% of the plastic is recycled.
This is not very nice. This is a global disaster more than anything else.
What about the rest of the plastic?
At a global level, from the USA to Italy passing through Easter Island (yes, even there), the actual non-recycling rate for plastics is above 90%.
If there was a car model that, more than 9 times out of 10, failed to safely transport its occupants to their destination, no one would ever say that it is a safe car.
The Plastics Museum will certainly be recycled, for all to see. Communicators and influencers will be on hand to register it, and a team of social managers will be hired to create content.
All the rest of the plastic that is not found in the nice museum in Madrid, all the rest of the world that does not recycle plastic, or cannot, will be behind the cameras.
To do what?
To make us understand that a museum of plastic is of little use, because a museum is used to preserve, and our real problem is this stuff we can't make it disappear.
Plastic producers can conscientiously and correctly say that this material is recyclable. This planet and our society say the exact opposite.
