A new report reveals how plastics companies are inserting their agenda into school curricula, from lesson plans to travelling exhibitions, all under the guise of educating about the ‘necessity’ of plastics. These materials often downplay the harmful impacts of plastics on health and the environment, focusing instead on their economic benefits.

Industry-backed materials are not just free; they’re designed to align with STEM learning objectives, making it hard for teachers to ignore them. But by promoting recycling as the solution to plastic pollution, these materials ignore the stark reality that only 9% of plastics are recycled globally, and that the production is set to increase, not decrease.

The problem isn't just in schools, but in those near petrochemical facilities. Shell, for instance, has invested heavily in plastics-related curricula in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Such tactics raise questions about the true intentions behind the industry’s educational outreach.

The report highlights that, while the materials may offer free resources, they often lack alignment with educational standards, and include technical terms that obscure the real science behind plastics. This raises concerns about whether the industry’s role is to educate or to influence the next generation’s perceptions of plastic’s value.