The first manmade plastic (Bakelite) was created in 1907 to replace shellac and keep up with demand. So more than a century, although it's hard to figure out when the real curve of mass plastic waste began to start climbing. Can't be too far from then, once it hit commercial products it was everywhere, and the idea of consumerism and throwaway products wasn't too long after then (thanks, Bernays).
this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2025
27 points (100.0% liked)
Collapse
763 readers
65 users here now
This is the place for discussing the potential collapse of modern civilization and the environment.
Collapse, in this context, refers to the significant loss of an established level or complexity towards a much simpler state. It can occur differently within many areas, orderly or chaotically, and be willing or unwilling. It does not necessarily imply human extinction or a singular, global event. Although, the longer the duration, the more it resembles a ‘decline’ instead of collapse.
RULES
1 - Remember the human
2 - Link posts should come from a reputable source
3 - All opinions are allowed but discussion must be in good faith.
4 - No low effort, high volume and low relevance posts.
Related lemmys:
- /c/green
- /c/antreefa
- /c/gardening
- /c/nativeplantgardening@mander.xyz
- /c/eco_socialism@lemmygrad.ml
- c/collapse@sopuli.xyz
- /c/biology
- /c/criseciv
- /c/eco
- Old posts https://lemmy.ml/c/collapse
founded 11 months ago
MODERATORS
The big wave was after 1950. This when our energy use and associated growth went into overdrive.
I wonder if microplastics can be found in older samples as well. Do microplastics predate industrialization? Not saying this is likely, but maybe we’re seeing something that was always there.
What we know is that they easily migrate into older sediment layers, so being less useful as dating markers.