We're Drowning in Plastic Pollution. Can We Actually Fix It?

• This video thoroughly details the plastic pollution problem including the history of plastic, causes and effects of this pollution, challenges to solving the issue, and potential solutions. 
• Greenhouse gas emissions from the production and transportation of plastic, as well as the transportation and clean up of plastic waste, are highlighted as other ways that plastic pollutes. 
• The video emphasizes the complex systemic changes that will be necessary to solve a problem of this scope and scale, far beyond individuals' actions. 

Positives

• The video is very in-depth and covers all aspects of plastic pollution.
• The video is realistic about how difficult this problem will be to solve, while remaining optimistic and providing actionable solutions.

Additional Prerequisites

• An advertisement may play at the start and part way through the video, which can be skipped after a few seconds.
• The video is divided into nine sections that can be played individually instead of playing the entire video at one time.

Differentiation

• In a science class, this video could be included in lessons about oceans, water pollution, fossil fuels, or human impacts on the environment.
• This video could be used in a history class as it connects the history of plastic to important historic events like World War II.
• The video briefly discusses how the Covid-19 pandemic has increased plastic waste, which could provide an interesting connection between healthcare and pollution or underscore unseen impacts of a global pandemic.
• A chemistry class could utilize this video to discuss the molecular structure and characteristics of plastics that make them so difficult to break down or convert into other forms through recycling processes.
• Other resources about plastic pollution include Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans For Good, Plastic Pollution: How Humans Are Turning the World into Plastic, and Why Plastic Pollution Is Even Worse Than You Think. 
• Resources that highlight actions being taken to help solve plastic pollution include Team Marine - Young Voices for the Planet, Future in the Bag Community Action Guide, and #Trashtag: The Online Challenge Cleaning Places Up.