Watch Addicted to Plastic

Addicted to Plastic is a documentary film from 2008 that explores the increasingly pervasive role of plastic in our lives and the environmental impact of this ubiquitous material. The film is directed by Ian Connacher, who travels across the world to showcase the impact of plastic waste on the environment and the steps that various communities and individuals are taking to address it.

The documentary opens with a series of shocking statistics about plastic waste, including the fact that approximately 50 billion plastic bottles are used each year in the United States alone, and that over 1 million plastic bags are used every minute worldwide. From there, the film launches into a global tour of the ways in which plastic is used and discarded, from landfills in the United States to the trash-strewn streets of Mumbai, India.

Throughout the film, Connacher interviews a number of experts and advocates who are working to combat the plastic problem. These range from academics and environmentalists to entrepreneurs and inventors who are developing new types of biodegradable plastic or creating products made of sustainable materials.

One of the more striking segments in the film focuses on the impact of plastic on marine life. Connacher journeys to the Pacific Ocean, where he meets a marine biologist who is studying the impact of plastic on sea turtles. The biologist explains how plastic waste can clog up the digestive tracts of the turtles, causing them to starve to death. The documentary also features interviews with surfers and ocean conservationists who describe how plastic pollution is damaging marine ecosystems and harming the creatures that live in them.

Another major theme of Addicted to Plastic is the tension between convenience and sustainability. The film highlights how plastic has become so ingrained in our lives that it is often difficult to imagine a world without it. Plastic is cheap, lightweight, and versatile, making it the material of choice for everything from food packaging to electronics. However, it is also largely non-biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, slowly breaking down into smaller and smaller particles that can enter the food chain and cause harm to humans and animals.

Throughout the film, Connacher meets with people who are challenging the status quo and trying to create more sustainable alternatives to plastic. These include a Canadian entrepreneur who has developed a biodegradable plastic made from corn, and a group of women in India who are using discarded plastic bags to create fashionable handbags and accessories.

Overall, Addicted to Plastic is a powerful and eye-opening documentary that challenges viewers to think critically about the role of plastic in our lives and the impact that our consumption habits have on the environment. The film is informative without being preachy, and the examples of innovative solutions that it presents are both inspiring and practical. While the subject matter is certainly alarming, the film ultimately leaves viewers with a sense of hope and a call to action to make changes in their own lives to reduce their use of plastic and support sustainable alternatives.