By now, most of us have heard that the use of plastics is a big issue for the environment. Partly fuelled by the success of the BBC’s Blue Planet II series, people are more aware than ever before about the dangers to wildlife caused by plastic pollution—as well as the impact it can have on human health—with industries promising money to tackle the issue.
Single-use plastics are now high on the agenda—with many people trying to do their bit to reduce usage. But what if all of this just provides a convenient distraction from some of the more serious environmental issues? In our new article in the journal Marine Policy we argue plastic pollution—or more accurately the response of governments and industry to addressing plastic pollution—provides a “convenient truth” that distracts from addressing the real environmental threats such as climate change.