Plastics Companies Are Writing Lesson Plans. What Could Go Wrong?

This fall, 54 million K-12 students in the U.S. are returning to school, where plastics are increasingly becoming part of the curriculum. A report by the Plastic Pollution Coalition reveals that the plastics industry is influencing education through free or low-cost resources like lesson plans, experiments, and the traveling “PlastiVan” program. These materials often emphasize the benefits of plastics while minimizing their environmental and health impacts. The report highlights cases where industry-sponsored content, such as activities from the Society of Plastics Engineers and the American Association of Chemistry Teachers, promotes plastics’ importance and recycling, despite low global recycling rates. The Plastic Pollution Coalition advocates for stricter policies against such materials in schools. QUESTION: How might the presence of industry-sponsored educational materials in schools shape students’ perceptions of environmental issues?