Earth Day: It's all about the plastic

Nathalie Drach-Temam, president of Sorbonne University opened the day by emphasizing the need to act collectively in all areas, whether education, research or student life. “As our colleague, climatologist Hervé Le Treut, says, it is time to move from a science of warning to a science of solutions.”

She also mentioned all the actions already implemented by Sorbonne University such as carrying out a carbon assessment and energy audits, the new eco-responsible positioning of the Saint-Cyr campus, the SPASER (a tool promoting the evolution of practices eco-responsible purchasing) and the registration of Sorbonne University in the DD&RS certification - Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility. Nathalie Drach-Teman highlighted support for local initiatives as well as everyone's involvement in waste sorting and eco-friendly actions. She recalled that our primary commitment is both scientific and societal, and that our research community contributes to national and international work on climate, biodiversity, oceans and materials, including plastics. “These dynamic forces, united within the Sorbonne University Alliance, under the banner of multidisciplinary institutes, are the leading figures of our search for excellence.”

Luc Abbadie, former director of the Environmental Transition Institute and co-author of the Jean Jouzel report “Teaching the ecological transition in higher education” then spoke. “Plastic is omnipresent, we can track it everywhere. And yet, overall, our knowledge of its effects remains weak.” After discussing the concept of the Anthropocene (human activities have a significant impact on the planet), Luc Abbadie asked essential questions on the reconciliation between social, economic development and environmental preservation, and pleaded for reflection in-depth on our relationship with life. He underlined the importance of developing systemic thinking, and mentioned training in ecological transition, which will be compulsory, from 2025, for students and public sector agents.

The next speaker, Christophe Prazuck, director of the Ocean Institute, took stock of plastic. “Every day, a garbage truck dumps its contents into the ocean, or 11 million tons of plastic every year. By 2040, the quantity of plastic could double in the oceans,” he said.

He followed up with a presentation of the Plastics group that he leads - launched in 2023 and bringing together around thirty multidisciplinary researchers -, highlighting Sorbonne University's commitment to this societal subject. It is also the only French university to be accredited by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The event continued with a round table on the subject of plastics in our society and the contribution of research.

Led by independent journalist Dorothée Moisan, it brought together experts from various fields, notably Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja, CNRS research director at the Paris Seine Institute of Biology (IBPS) and president of the working group at Anses, on endocrine disruptors, Katharina Rall, researcher in the Environment and Human Rights division at Human Rights Watch, having worked on plastics and human rights, Khashayar Saleh, professor at UTC Compiègne in the Integrated Transformations of Renewable Matter laboratory , specialist in the transformation of matter, Cornelia Rumpel, CNRS research director at the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences in Paris, specialist in soil pollution and Philippe Bolo, Democratic MP for Maine-et-Loire , co-rapporteur of three studies on plastic pollution for the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices.

Cornelia Rumpel: “It is undeniable that composting is a beneficial practice for reducing waste and enriching soils with organic matter. However, contamination by plastics compromises its effectiveness and can have harmful consequences on ecosystems. The introduction of plastic into compost is often the result of inadequate sorting practices. Studies have found that introducing compost into soil leads over time to an accumulation of microplastics, which are harmful to soil microbial fauna.”

“Soils are three to four times more polluted than the oceans.”

Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja: “Phthalates are found at significant levels in water, therefore in urine, amniotic fluid… Substances like DEP, DPP, BPA, DEHP present health risks human and environmental, disrupt the endocrine system and reduce the production of testosterone during fetal development.”

“Despite the regulations in place, it is pertinent to question whether they are sufficient to reduce health risks. It is also necessary to question the relevance of tolerable daily doses and regulations to limit uses and contamination.”

Katharina Rall: “In 2021, a report on the situation in Turkey revealed that the country accepts waste from the EU and other countries. We conducted interviews with 64 people, 20 of whom worked at recycling plants and others who lived nearby. The testimony of a man in his twenties, who had worked in a recycling factory during his childhood before collecting waste in the street, spoke of serious respiratory problems and skin diseases.”

“Turkey receives more and more waste from abroad, with an increase in imports since 2018. Faced with these human rights violations, action is necessary.”

“We are carrying out advocacy and putting in place agreements to regulate exploitation with strengthened controls.”

Khashayar Saleh: “It’s an observation: we are unable to replace plastic with an equivalent alternative. The question is whether we can do without plastic altogether, to which the answer is probably no, given that there is an incompressible volume. However, it is imperative to reduce its production. For every ton of plastic, 2 tons of oil are extracted.”

“It is necessary to raise awareness, set up recovery and recycling sectors, and work on replacing plastics with bio-sourced materials. We must offer more resource-efficient processes and engage in an eco-design approach, supported by political will.”

Philippe Bolo: “We must demonstrate humility in our action, based on factual data provided by NGOs and companies, and on science. It is essential to evaluate public policies and laws to ensure their proper application and promote societal dialogue.”

“Local elected officials have a crucial role to play and must be made aware of the effects of plastic pollution.”

“I have set up an international parliamentary coalition with around twenty countries whose aim is to coordinate actions to influence governments and raise awareness in civil society.”

The second part of the day was introduced by Guillaume Fiquet, vice-president of international relations, territorial and socio-economic partnerships at Sorbonne University, who insisted on the need to pool resources to educate a generation of leaders capable of meeting the climate challenges.  Mélodie Tran Thuan, vice-president of Students, then took the floor to salute student initiatives in the field of sustainable development.

The public were then introduced to the international student network for the climate UniC, with a multiplex presentation from the partner universities of Sorbonne University: the University of Laval and that of McGill in Quebec, the University of Rabat in Morocco and that of Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal. With more than 1,200 members from 70 countries, UniC offers in particular to equip students to strengthen their skills in climate action.

The end of the day continued with a series of short films on plastic, including BAKELITE, by freediving champion and choreographer Julie Gautier or the short animated film Bottle Cap.

Finally, a round table on raising awareness of the problem of plastic pollution closed the day. The opportunity to hear Jean-Baptiste Fini, professor and biologist specializing in endocrine disruptors at the National Museum of Natural History, who worked on an innovative methodology to test the potential endocrine disruption of molecules migrating from food containers (ANR PoLySafe) link in French).

Corinne Copin, scientific mediator, came to present the Génération Mer collective which brings together many players in participatory science for sustainable management of the oceans. “We must raise awareness from the tops of the mountains to the shores of the sea,” she nicely recalled. Pierre-Ange Giudicelli, alumnus of Sorbonne University, concluded the round table by presenting the Corsican environmental association Mare Vivu, which he co-directs. Committed to preserving the Mediterranean, it promotes zero waste and raises awareness among young people of environmental issues.

Earth Day at Sorbonne University made it possible to address in depth the environmental issues linked to the use of plastics, while encouraging awareness and mobilization for sustainable solutions.