We talk a lot about plastic waste—what ends up in oceans, clogs up rivers, or gets burned in backyard heaps. We talk about whether bioplastics like cassava are better. But what we rarely talk about is where plastic begins: in the places where it’s made. Not in the boardrooms of the companies profiting from it, but in the neighborhoods next door to the petrochemical plants. The ones breathing in the consequences of the plastic economy long before we toss our yogurt tubs into the bin.
Inspired by the documentary Single-Use Planet, this article takes a step back to explore plastic’s origin story and the people who live at the frontlines of its production.
Featured Video: SINGLE-USE PLANET trailer 2025
Before we go further, take a moment to watch the trailer for Single-Use Planet. This eye-opening documentary travels from Louisiana’s Cancer Alley to Pennsylvania’s plastic corridors, exposing the hidden human toll of plastic production. It sets the stage for everything we’re about to explore in this article — not the end of plastic’s life, but the beginning.
Now that you’ve seen the bigger picture in motion, let’s dive deeper into what it means to live next door to the source of the problem.
The Birthplace of Plastic Isn’t Pretty
Most plastic starts as fossil fuels—either oil or natural gas. And transforming that raw material into plastic means refining it, cracking it, heating it, and processing it. This doesn’t happen in the middle of nowhere. It happens in real towns, often near waterways, schools, and homes.
In the U.S., places like Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” and the industrial corridors of Pennsylvania have become hotspots for plastic production. These communities, often low-income and predominantly Black or brown, face higher risks of cancer, respiratory illness, and birth defects. Why? Because the air, water, and soil around them are saturated with the byproducts of turning fossil fuels into plastic.
Environmental Racism in Action
It’s not an accident that these facilities are located where they are. Hazardous industries are placed in communities with the fewest resources to fight back. These communities didn’t choose to host massive petrochemical complexes—but they live with the consequences every single day.
It’s environmental racism, plain and simple. In St. James Parish, Louisiana, for example, residents have cancer rates nearly 50 times the national average — and they live beside one of the densest clusters of petrochemical plants in the country. And while plastic bag bans and compostable packaging get headlines, the story of who’s paying the real price rarely does.
What the Cassava Conversation Misses
We’ve recently looked at biodegradable solutions like cassava bags, asking whether they’re truly sustainable. But here’s the thing: most conversations about plastic solutions only focus on disposal — what happens after we toss the item away.
What Single-Use Planet reminds us is that the real damage begins long before that—at the production stage. And even if we swap materials, if we keep scaling up our reliance on single-use products, we’re just shifting the burden from one part of the world to another.
The Myth of Cleaner Plastics
Even so-called “clean” plastics like PLA (corn-based) or cassava bioplastics still require factories, supply chains, and industrial processes. They may produce fewer microplastics and break down faster, but they don’t eliminate the toxic politics of where, and how, our packaging gets made.
If we don’t address the conditions under which these materials are produced, we’re only cleaning up the optics—not the reality.
So if swapping materials isn’t enough, what is?
What We Can Do
We can start by listening to the people who live near plastic production. Supporting organizations that advocate for environmental justice. Demanding stronger environmental protections and transparency from industry.
And yes, we can still make better choices as consumers—like using our own bags, buying in bulk, or skipping plastic altogether when we can. But real change starts upstream.
Conclusion: A Bigger Picture
Plastic pollution doesn’t start in the ocean. It starts at the smokestack. And if we want to make meaningful progress, we need to stop focusing only on what we throw away and start paying attention to what—and who—gets thrown under the bus in the process.
Critical thinking starts with asking better questions.
Further Reading
To deepen your understanding of the environmental justice issues surrounding plastic production and its impact on marginalized communities, consider exploring the following resources:
Articles:
Plastic pollution is an environmental injustice to vulnerable communities – UN Environment Programme
This United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report highlights how plastic pollution disproportionately affects marginalized communities living near plastic production and waste sites, constituting an environmental injustice.
Health risks for the population living near petrochemical industrial complexes – National Library of Medicine
Published in Environmental Research, this study reviews the increased incidence of various cancers and respiratory issues among individuals residing near petrochemical facilities, emphasizing the health disparities faced by these communities.
How Plastic Creates Injustice – International Earth Day
An article by Earth Day Network that examines the inequitable health hazards faced by communities situated near plastic production facilities, with a focus on areas like Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley.”
Books:
The following books are linked to Amazon.com for your convenience. If you decide to purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility – [amazon.com]
By Dorceta Taylor
This book delves into the intersection of environmental racism and industrial pollution, providing case studies of communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards.
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right – [amazon.com]
By Arlie Russell Hochschild
While not solely focused on environmental issues, this work explores the lives of residents in Louisiana’s industrial areas, offering insights into the social and environmental challenges they face.
Documentaries:
The Big Sea – Vogue Business
Directed by Chris Nelson, this documentary links wetsuit production in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” to high cancer rates, highlighting the environmental injustices faced by local communities.
Plastic China
This film provides a candid look into the lives of families working in plastic recycling facilities, exposing the human and environmental costs of plastic waste. YouTube: Watch Plastic China | Trailer here.
These resources offer valuable perspectives on the complex issues surrounding plastic production, environmental justice, and the health impacts on vulnerable communities.
Explore the Plastic Truths Mini-Series
This article is part of the Plastic Truths series. To explore all articles and dig deeper into the myths that sustain the plastic age, visit our Plastic Truths overview page.
We don’t publish to praise complexity—we publish to question the kind of eco-language that makes fossil-based plastic sound plant-based. We publish to unmask it.
Image Acknowledgement
We’re grateful to the talented photographers and designers on Unsplash for providing beautiful, free-to-use images. The image on this page is by Kyunghee Yim. Check out their work here: https://unsplash.com/@isaedesk/illustrations.
