The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late
(Hardback)
Publishing Details
The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late
By (Author) Judith Enck
By (author) Adam Mahoney
By (author) Beyond Plastics
The New Press
The New Press
11th March 2026
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
Environmental policy and protocols
Conservation of the environment
Physical Properties
Hardback
224
Width 139mm, Height 215mm, Spine 11mm
Description
A powerful investigation into plastic's impact on human health and the environment, and how we can fight back
What if we said that the line between societal advancement and environmental degradation was Saran Wrap thin Once a marvel of modern science, plastic has become so inextricably woven into our lives that imagining a world without it seems impossible. Over the last seventy-five years, plastic has cradled our planet in a synthetic embrace.
The Problem with Plastic critically examines the paradox of this material, first celebrated for its innovations and now recognized for its devastating environmental and public health impacts. This compelling narrative reveals how plastic pollution contributes to poisoned oceans, polluted air, and overwhelming waste, particularly affecting marginalized communities, which face the brunt of industrial pollution. The book highlights the pervasive presence of microplastics in the environment and the human body, challenging the belief that recycling can solve the crisis.
In addition to uncovering environmental racism and debunking industry claims, The Problem with Plastic emphasizes the urgent need for action against plastic's toxic legacy, and offers readers practical, actionable solutions, including a "household waste audit," which empowers readers to track and reduce their own plastic consumption.
Author Bio
Judith Enck is the founder and president of Beyond Plastics, whose goal is eliminating plastic pollution everywhere. In 2009, she was appointed by President Obama to serve as regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and served as deputy secretary for the environment in the New York Governor's Office. She is currently a professor at Bennington College, where she teaches classes on plastic pollution. She lives in upstate New York.
Adam Mahoney is the national climate and environment reporter at Capital B News. He has reported from more than a dozen U.S. states and Palestine, Mexico, Uganda, and Vietnam for newspapers including the New York Times and The Guardian. He lives in New Orleans.
Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project that uses education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to reduce the production and use of plastic.
