Plastic Inc. The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil's Biggest Bet

A _New York Times Book Review_ Editors’ Choice An extraordinary exposé of the industry flooding our world with plastic—and now ramping up to make more than ever “A compelling true-crime story.” —Zoë Schlanger, _The New York Times Book Review_ “Deeply researched, sharply written, and totally compelling.” —Elizabeth Kolbert, author of the _The Sixth Extinction_ “It is impossible not to compare Beth Gardiner’s _Plastic Inc_. to Rachel Carson’s _Silent Spring_.” —John Vaillant, author of _Fire Weather_ Plastic, the foundational material of modern consumerism, is everywhere in our daily lives. But the oil and petrochemical companies making it are hiding in plain sight. Because for all the vivid coverage of where plastic ends up, there is remarkably little discussion of where it comes from. Today, industry is pouring billions of dollars into plans to double, or even triple, the amount it churns out, even as individuals concerned about plastic’s out-of-control proliferation try to use less. As Big Oil stares down a future of diminishing demand for fossil fuels, plastic has become its financial lifeline. Award-winning journalist Beth Gardiner gives readers an up-close look at the plastic industry’s relentless growth, its extraordinary profits, its toxic pollution and its hidden role in exacerbating climate change. Every chapter in _Plastic Inc._ brings new revelations,