Dying plastics: a geography of waste

- Event held in French -

As waste volumes rise, a question arises: what does the way we handle plastics reveal about our models of production, consumption and regulation?

Plastic waste now serves as a prime lens through which to view contemporary transformations. By tracing its flows, its material properties and the social dynamics that govern its circulation, Jeanne Perez highlights the trade-offs that shape waste management systems and the limitations of current responses. Why does recycling occupy such a central place in public policy? What effects does this hyper-focus on the end of the life cycle produce? What alternatives can be considered in the face of the difficulties in closing the loop?

This event aims to open up a discussion on recycling mechanisms, the organisation of the sector and the collective choices that currently guide plastic management.

The session will bring together Jeanne Perez and Henri Bourgeois Costa, Director of Public Affairs at the Tara Ocean Foundation and co-designer of the cycle, and will be moderated by a science journalist.

Following the discussion, you will have the opportunity to ask our guests any questions you may have. 

Organised in partnership with the Tara Ocean Foundation, the series ‘Plastics: a systemic poison’ explores a form of pollution that has become a global issue. Since the 1970s, scientific research has revealed the scale of the problem: from the oceans to the mountains, invisible microplastics are entering our bodies and disrupting ecosystems. The humanities and social sciences complement this picture by analysing the economic and social mechanisms underpinning our dependence on plastics.

As the seventh round of negotiations for an international treaty begins this year, these meetings bring together researchers and civil society to pool knowledge and inform public policy decisions. The aim: to collectively rethink our relationship with plastics and the environment.

→ Discover the series