A Simple Step to Reduce Your Impact on the Climate Crisis
Whenever Melissa Valliant goes out to eat, she brings along her own set of reusable utensils. For her, refusing single-use plastic cutlery isn’t just about convenience—it’s a conscious effort to combat plastic pollution, which is closely tied to the broader climate crisis.
Plastic products, including disposable utensils, are primarily made from fossil fuel derivatives. The extraction and processing of these fossil fuels release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, which accelerate global warming. Most disposable cutlery is made from polystyrene, a type of plastic derived from petroleum byproducts.
“Plastic production accelerates climate change at a rate four times higher than the airline industry,” says Valliant, who directs communications for Beyond Plastics, a national campaign based at Bennington College in Vermont aiming to eliminate plastic pollution. The environmental harm doesn’t stop at carbon emissions. The drilling and fracking required to obtain raw materials pollute air and water, and manufacturing plastic releases toxic emissions that further degrade the environment.
The issue extends beyond climate change, touching on environmental justice. Valliant highlights that many plastics are produced and discarded in economically disadvantaged communities and communities of color, where pollution has been linked to elevated cancer rates.
Dr. Jillian Goldfarb, a chemical engineering professor at Cornell University, emphasizes the energy-intensive nature of fossil fuel processing. Refining crude oil consumes vast amounts of water—about 1.5 barrels per barrel of oil processed—adding strain to natural resources.
The scale of disposable utensil use is staggering. Estimates suggest that Americans use between 36 billion and 40 billion plastic forks, knives, and spoons annually—over 100 million each day. Although recycling might seem like a solution, globally only around 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. The vast majority accumulates in landfills, where durable plastics can linger for centuries.
“In a landfill, plastic cutlery is slowly broken down mechanically and chemically, releasing tiny microplastics,” explains Goldfarb. These microplastics can contaminate groundwater, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. When plastic is burned, it emits carbon dioxide and potentially harmful particles, though emissions from incinerators are generally lower than landfill pollution, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Valliant stresses that individual recycling efforts alone won’t resolve the plastic pollution crisis. “The problem starts with production,” she explains. “We need to reduce plastic manufacturing and use from the outset.”
Switching from single-use plastic cutlery to alternatives like bamboo, compostable materials, or metal utensils can significantly lessen environmental impact. For instance, producing a pound of bamboo cutlery requires just a fraction of the energy used to make plastic utensils. Metal forks need more water to produce but are reusable for years, saving energy over time.
Importantly, you don’t have to purchase new utensils to make a difference. Valliant encourages people to use what they already own. If everyone avoided just one plastic fork, it could keep around 200,000 tons of plastic out of landfills—roughly the weight of nearly 900 Statues of Liberty.
Goldfarb adds that switching to reusable metal utensils can save enough energy to charge a smartphone once daily for five years.
While one person’s choices may seem small in the grand scheme, Goldfarb points out that such actions can inspire community-wide change. Many regions across the US are banning single-use plastics, including utensils, which could collectively lead to meaningful reductions in pollution.
There is also growing concern about microplastics entering the human body. Research has detected these tiny particles in blood, lungs, placentas, brains, and other organs. Exposure to chemicals associated with plastics has been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, fertility problems, and other serious health issues.
“This is alarming,” Valliant warns. “Reducing plastic use isn’t just good for the planet—it’s crucial for our health. Policymakers must take action to limit plastic production and protect communities.”
