Just as Earth sequestered carbon deep into secure geologic storage to cultivate and green the biosphere, so too can we compact, secure, and sequester our plastic (which itself is mostly carbon). By following the Earth’s example we can be confident our enterprise of plastic management is making a valuable ecological contribution.
We call this prevention of plastic degradation and dispersal, plastic sequestration.
Plastic degradation occurs physically (such as cracking, embrittlement, and flaking) and chemically (such as leaching). Emissions and dispersal occur when plastic is industrially processed through recycling, incineration, and land-filling. In order to prevent these outcomes, plastic sequestration diverts plastic from industry and prevents the chemical and physical degradation of plastic from the effects of light, heat, acids, friction, microbial action, etc.
1. Preventing Degradation
Plastic polymer degradation occurs on the exposed surface area of plastic. Consequently, the rate of degradation is directly proportional to the amount of surface area exposed. Research indicates that a thin film of HDPE plastic (which has a very large surface area) can degrade 1100 times faster than a bead of plastic of the same weight (very small surface area).
By decreasing net surface area, the lifetime of collected plastic can be extended significantly. By further removing exposure to all forms of chemical and physical degradation through appropriate applications, plastic can remain intact indefinitely.
2. Preventing Industrial Emissions
Plastic that enters into industry results in a wide range of energy-intensive activities from transportation to smelting to re-molding. The goal of plastic sequestration is to prevent these emissions.
3. Preventing Industrial Plastic Dispersion
Plastic that enters into industry is inevitably dispersed around the globe. The goal of plastic sequestration is to prevent this dispersion.
4. Preventing Ecological Disruption
Plastic once loose in the biosphere has been shown to interfere with ecological cycles. The goal of plastic sequestration is to prevent these disruptions.
5. Earthen Enclosure
Research has shown that enclosing plastic in earth prevents abiotic plastic degradation. By enclosing the outputs of plastic sequestration in inert, net-zero earthen building materials such as cob and adobe, the outputs of plastic sequestration can be secured.
ℹ️ Learn about: The Long Story of Plastic
ℹ️ Source: Earthen Ethics