The Plastics Paradox: Facts for a Brighter Future

by Chris DeArmitt

The Plastics Paradox is the first and only book to reveal the truth about plastics and the environment. Based on over 400 scientific articles, it dispels the myths that the public believe today. The list goes on... Everything you believe now is untrue and we are making policies that harm the environment based on bad information. After reading The Plastics Paradox you will be able to make wise choices that help create a brighter future for us and for our children.

188 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2020

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a blatant apologia for the plastics industry. I had an exchange with the author about his book on LinkedIn on August 15 and 16, 2022, that ended with him blocking me. It started with my comment on plastic recycling, quoted below. He responded by only addressing John Oliver's plastic sham segment and dismissing the rest. He said that "John Oliver's work was full of fiction, please get your facts from proper scientists." I noted that his vague slanders of John Oliver's work are Ad Hominem hallmarks of sophistry, spin, and PR from the Merchants of Doubt playbook. Make a specific claim about which points are fiction [humor and satire are features not bugs] — you won't or can't because that would be subject to fact-checking. You are tainted as an expert witness for plastic producers. Why should anyone believe you?

He blocked me shortly after I posted that.

Plastic recycling has been and still is mostly a marketing lie. We need to get rid of or at least vastly reduce the use of plastics not pretend that they are going to be recycled—which has happened in the past. And is still happening.
"Few of these projects actually turned much plastic into new things.
NPR tracked down almost a dozen projects the industry publicized starting in 1989. All of them shuttered or failed by the mid-1990s. Mobil's Massachusetts recycling facility lasted three years,  for example. Amoco's project to recycle plastic in New York schools lasted two. Dow and Huntsman's highly publicized plan to recycle plastic in national parks made it to seven out of 419 parks before the companies cut funding.
None of them was able to get past the economics: Making new plastic out of oil is cheaper and easier than making it out of plastic trash.
Both Freeman and Thomas, the head of the lobbying group, say the executives all knew that."
See

NPR How Big Oil Misled the Public into Believing plastic would be recycled
NPR Zero Waste Single Use Plastic Trash recycle

John Oliver’s plastic sham segment

The recycling rate for post-consumer plastic was just 5% to 6% in 2021.

[Ivan Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have all been fed with lies about plastics. Government creates bans and policies based on what their misinformed citizens demand in order to get their votes. But is that the right path to follow? This book will break with all those myths and lies we are being told and help of take wise actions based on science and truth.

[TJ Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information and the sources are top notch, but the format is a little annoying and the quality and editing of the writing is not the best. But this book is a great resource. I heard the author on an interview on the Jordan Harbinger Show, a podcast I like, and I found his arguments and evidence very compelling. Everyone is so sure that plastics and microplastics are killing us. Dr DeArmitt goes through all the scientific studies and shows why that's not the case. Some studies did claim harm, but those studies were bad for reasons he explains. One that surprised me was a study they did to prove the harm of microplastics in the ocean, they exposed sea creatures to 100 million times the amount of microplastics they would encounter in the ocean. So, not the most accurate assessment. He also cited a couple instances of environmental groups like Greenpeace having to admit in court that they had no evidence for accusations they'd brought against a company of poisoning the environment. I was also surprised, and encouraged, to read that plastic leaching of dangerous chemicals had been a problem in the 80's and 90's, but that these problems were solved decades ago to zero news coverage. Anyway, if you're suspicious of all the hysteria around plastics, maybe try reading a book by a guy with a phd in plastic sciences.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a mixture of plastics justificaron and degrading other scientists.
The good: while society is hearing how bad plastic is, this book explains the reasons plastics are preferable, usually because they are lighter than alternatives resulting in less transportation cost.
The thought provoking: lifecycle analysis reports are used to show an equivalent benefit in plastic use over the energy cost and lifecycle of more “natural” options.
The challenging: the author touched on littering and highlighted how recycling is difficult and expensive.
The bad: it was very concerning to read phrases of “other PhDs are not real scientists”.
The missing: no significant coverage of sea life with stomachs full of plastic. Plenty of comments how it was irresponsible people who throw plastic into the ocean, but no significant discussion on real effects.

[Rick Tabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great review of the environmental benefits of plastics versus glass, metal and paper. (Plastics are better in vitually every instance when it comes to energy use, greenhouse gases and impact on the environment, btw.) As a polymer scientist I am tired of people choosing paper bags as being more environmentally responsible, when in fact, paper bags require many times more water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions that platic bags, making the plastic bags a clear choice for the environment. If you recycle your plastic grocery bags (like we do) to make plastic lumber, then the environmental impact is even lower.
A quick informative read for those seeking knowledge to make good decisions about plastic regulations, which type of bag to use at the grocery store and the overall great benefits of plastics.

[Tim MacLean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has made me reconsider everything about single use plastics. As an engineer looking at the full lifecycle of the product is important. Plastic bag bans replacing plastic with paper is probably one of the biggest misconceptions that exists. Reusable bags is still the best option but if you can reuse a plastic bag just once (trash can liner, dog bag, it extends the life cycle.

[Shawn Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic and accessible treatment of this subject. I read it in two sittings - remarkably researched material and should be required reading for anyone who professes to care about our environment.

[Darrin Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read , truly eye opening and very thoroughly well researched

The effort and time put into researching for this book is truly incredible. A must read for all, thank you Chris.

[Norjak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Additional perspectives to consider. Litter a choice some human made somewhere in the chain resonated (& we don’t litter what value). I found reducing landfill comparison to mass the least compelling argument (which would overly favor light-weight material - volume would seem more appropriate).

[Greg Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank and fact-filled, it's about time we had a straightforward presentation on this subject matter.

[Stephen Pegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read in this day of too much information and too much hype.

[Marco Caliari · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like the writer did not understand how capitalism works