Hi, I’m plastic. I was born in 1862 by accident(“History of Plastics”), but in 1907 I was being seen as a way to help humans. I was made into bags, shoes, toys and even built into car bodies. And that's just a few things.

But let's fast forward to today, the year 2022! More and more people are talking about climate change, and “oh did you see the video of a guy pulling a really long, plastic straw from a sea turtle's nose?” and social media telling people to start using bags made of fabric and switch to metal straws. Oh and how about “have you seen India's slums, it’s full of plastic trash.” People are saying ‘off with plastics head!’ But I did nothing wrong! I was born to help humans, make things a little more covenant. 

You can’t make everything out of metal. Can you imagine a baby doll made of metal? Or the inside of modern day cars that have plastic to make the inside safer. 

What I’m trying to say is, I’m not the bad guy here. Have you seen what is happening to the trees, how about the earth's crust from all that mining? I’m not the problem, the problem is humans. I’m important in all parts of their lives and people still throw me into rivers and lakes. And to be honest I don’t know how to swim nor can I walk, so why do I keep finding myself in places I shouldn't be? 

Oh and here's something really cool! I can be recycled. So HA who's the real monster here?! I’d love to be a plastic bag and turned into a pair of shoes, sunglasses, baby toys, RC cars, and even those will be recycled to make them again or even used in real cars. And the only time I belong in the water is when I’m a boat or I’m saving someone's life.

That reminds me, I’m even in your hospitals, I save your lives. Now you really can’t say I’m a monster! “How does plastic save people?” you may ask. Well you remember when your child broke her arm on the trampoline, and she had to go into surgery? Well I was there, I helped keep her breathing as oxygen moved through the tubing, aka, me. 

I’m not leaving even if you try to replace me. Try using a metal spatula on a non-stick pan. Or a wooden spatula to spread icing on your cake. 

Are you starting to see how I’m a part of your everyday life yet?

I just want to say, it was never my intention to bring harm to Planet Earth. And I wouldn’t be harmful to earth if humans didn’t make me. I’m meant to be a friend, not an enemy. I’m sorry you saw me as a monster because of what others have made me do that I have no control over. But you have control over how humans should use me because I’m a helper, not a problem maker. And if I had arms and legs I would kneel at your feet and beg for your help, because I can’t make the world see that I’m not a monster without your help. 

Work cited 

“History of Plastics.” Plastics Industry Association, 12 Feb. 2021, www.plasticsindustry.org/history-plastics.