Beyond the 3Rs: New Frontiers in Plastic Pollution Education
Published Online: May 19, 2025
Written by: Isobel Talks
"Have you ever watched a toddler gleefully splash through a sea of plastic bottles? Or witnessed teenagers debating the merits of a Kinder Surprise container? If not, buckle up—because innovative environmental educators are reimagining how we teach about plastic pollution in ways that might surprise you. The six studies in this collection collectively demonstrate that when it comes to teaching about our plastic planet, we might need to throw the traditional playbook out the window (into a proper recycling bin, of course).
Plastic Is Already Part of Kids' Lives—Let's Start There
The standout insight from Kraftl and colleagues' UK-based research is almost painfully obvious once you hear it: children already have complex, embodied, and often contradictory relationships with plastics in their everyday lives. These 11-15 year olds demonstrated sophisticated critical awareness of plastics in consumer culture, yet simultaneously had trouble articulating their relationship with the ubiquitous plastics surrounding them in routine life. ..."
Print Page
Email to a Friend