October Sustainability Spotlight, Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026
(Source:Â Alexandra Kanik | Ohio Valley ReSource)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89287884335?pwd=a66n9DRguEpnYlCnxAN9ssYqbhPqov.1
Plastic, especially in single-use items, is often seen mainly as a waste and litter issue. But many of its environmental and public health impacts start earlier in the plastic lifecycle, during fossil fuel extraction, refining and polymer manufacturing.
Join us at our October Sustainability Spotlight as we explore the often-overlooked upstream impacts of plastic. We’ll trace the journey from extracting natural gas from shale formations to processing fossil-fuel-derived chemicals into plastic feedstocks and manufacturing everyday products such as plastic straws.
We’ll also examine how the infrastructure that supports plastic production can negatively affect communities near natural gas extraction sites and petrochemical facilities. The key takeaway is clear: reducing plastic pollution means doing much more than managing waste after it is created. It also requires recognizing plastic’s strong ties to the fossil fuel economy and the burdens that production places on nearby communities through air, water, and soil.