BROADCASTS.com

b'Who should take responsibility for reducing the amount of plastic debris that litters our cities, waterways and oceans? While many consumers have given up their plastic grocery bags, most still rely on the convenience of plastic water bottles, liquid soap and fast food in styrofoam containers. \\u201cMany of our companies are looking at bio-based materials and other kinds of plastics,\\u201d says Keith Christman of the American Chemistry Council. \\u201cHigh density polyethylene, made from sugarcane, is one of the largest uses today of bioplastics.\\u201d But is plant-based plastic the answer? As Molly Morse of Mango Materials points out, without oxygen to break them down, bioplastics can last as long as or longer than conventional plastic. Her company is working to create plastic out of methane gas harvested from wastewater treatment plants. \\u201cIt can break down in the ocean,\\u201d she says. Bridgett Luther, President of Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, helps steer companies toward more responsible solutions for design, manufacturing and packaging their products. She points out that this approach led to market success for one company that eschewed the use of non-recyclable foam in their chairs. \\u201c [Herman Miller] developed one of the fastest selling office chairs ever, the Aeron Chair. The end of use of that Herman Miller chair was a lot of super valuable materials that can be easily recycled.\\u201d The household cleaning company Method Products has been harvesting discarded plastic from beaches in Hawaii to produce their Ocean Plastic bottle. \\u201cUsing the plastic that\\u2019s already on the planet is a solution that we have today,\\u201d says co-founder Adam Lowry. \\u201cSo I tend to favor solutions that we can employ right now rather than saying, \\u201cYes. The technology is coming.\\u201d Despite these promising steps, all agree that it\\u2019s going to take a village \\u2014 manufacturers, consumers and legislators \\u2014 to work together if we\\u2019re going to rid our world of plastic waste. Keith Christman, Managing Director for Plastics Markets, American Chemistry Council; Co-chair, Global Action Committee on Marine Litter Adam Lowry, Co-founder and Chief Greenskeeper, Method Products PBC Bridgett Luther, President, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Molly Morse, CEO, Mango Materials This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on January 30, 2014\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'