Plastics — villain or saviour?

​Audience: People in Public Health

Did you know plastic was once invented to save elephants 🐘

(True story-ivory was used for buttons, and plastic stepped in as the hero.)
Plot twist:
The hero stayed… and now it’s kind of… everywhere 😅

So instead of picking sides, we thought—why not hear both sides of the story?

Here’s what we’re doing 👇
🎬 Session 1: Film screening – The Story of Plastic (by The Story of Stuff Project)
→ The “uh-oh, what have we done?” version of the story
The Story of Plastic is a searing exposé revealing the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the false solution of plastic recycling. Different from every other plastic documentary you’ve seen, The Story of Plastic presents a cohesive timeline of how we got to our current global plastic pollution crisis and how the oil and gas industry has successfully manipulated the narrative around it. From the extraction of fossil fuels and plastic disposal to the global resistance fighting back, The Story of Plastic is a life-changing, Emmy-winning film depicting one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.

📘 Session 2: Book summary by Solomon Thirumurugan
→ “Plastics: Just a Load of Rubbish?” by Alicia Chrysostomou
→ The “wait, it’s not all bad…” perspective
In the book Plastics: Just a Load of Rubbish?, polymer scientist Alicia Chrysostomou provides a comprehensive re-evaluation of a material often vilified by modern society. She argues that while environmental concerns regarding waste are valid, the media has fostered a demonization of plastic that ignores its vital role in improving human life and its potential for sustainability. The text traces the historical evolution of polymers, beginning with natural substances like amber and shellac before moving to accidental 19th-century breakthroughs and the eventual rise of synthetic oil-based versions. Chrysostomou clarifies common misconceptions about bioplastics and recycling while highlighting how plastic's unique properties have revolutionized industries such as telecommunications and medicine. Ultimately, she challenges readers to move beyond a "plastic-bashing" mindset to find a balanced approach to resource conservation.

🎤 Session 3: Open debate
→ No experts. No lectures. Just people talking, questioning, disagreeing, and maybe understanding a little more

Because honestly, most things in public health aren’t black or white—they’re… plastic 😄 (flexible, messy, everywhere)

We’re experimenting with something different:
One issue. Two opposite narratives. One shared space.

If you’ve ever wondered:
“Is plastic the villain… or just misunderstood?”
Come join us and figure it out together.