The plastic backlash: what's behind our sudden rage – and will it make a difference?

Decades after it became part of the fabric of our lives, a worldwide revolt against plastic is underway. By Stephen BuranyiPlastic is everywhere, and suddenly we have decided that is a very bad thing. Until recently, plastic enjoyed a sort of anonymity in ubiquity: we were so thoroughly surrounded that we hardly noticed it. You might be surprised to learn, for instance, that today’s cars and planes are, by volume, about 50% plastic. More clothing is made out of polyester and nylon, both pl