Plastics are petrochemicals, meaning they’re made by combining fossil fuels (usually fracked gas) with chemicals. Petrochemical plants are among the most polluting industries in terms of harmful air and water pollution, and greenhouse gases. In the US, most petrochemical plants are clustered in a low-income, largely Black area of Louisiana known as “Cancer Alley.” So from fracking, to chemical production, to petrochemical manufacturing, people and the environment are harmed—that’s not even counting the end of the plastics lifecycle, like ocean pollution and incineration.
The concern:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/plastics-plants-a...
An insider view of industry:
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/chemicals/our-insights/p...
My source: my wife is an environmental lawyer who is very concerned about climate change and works closely on these issues.