Why plastic-free?

With the average person using 0.34 kg of plastic every single day, humanity produces an astonishing 460–500 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. To put that into perspective, that’s the weight of 3,700 to 4,000 Statues of Liberty (with pedestal and base) made entirely of plastic trash—every single year.

Unlike organic matter, plastics don’t break down into harmless byproducts like CO₂ or water. The very properties that make plastics so useful—durability, flexibility, and resistance to degradation—become deeply problematic after disposal. Instead of disappearing, plastics simply fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming what we call microplastics (MPs, <5 mm).

 

Over time, these MPs can be inhaled or ingested by animals and humans, where they may lodge in tissues, trigger inflammation, and cause long-term health risks. Even worse, plastics act like sponges in the environment—absorbing heavy metals and “forever chemicals” like PFAS, which they then transfer to any organism unlucky enough to consume them.

 

With only about 10% of plastics ever recycled, our plastic future looks grim unless we choose a different path. But here’s the paradox: plastics are also woven into the fabric of our daily lives. They keep blood sterile in hospitals, extend the shelf life of food, and provide unparalleled convenience.

 

This love–hate relationship with plastics is at the heart of our mission. At Plastic-Free Pals, we empower students and adults alike to understand the plastic problem and discover how everyday lifestyle changes and collective action can help turn the tide against plastic pollution.

Learn More - MPs in the Soil (ArcGIS Storymap)

I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive the University of Wisconsin–Madison Forward Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association. The Forward Award recognizes young alumni whose early-career achievements exemplify the Wisconsin Idea through service, discovery, and progress.

When I first arrived at UW–Madison, I never imagined where the journey would lead—from developing new methods to detect microplastics, to mentoring students, creating educational programs, and working with communities to better understand and address plastic pollution.

 

This recognition belongs just as much to the incredible mentors, collaborators, students, friends, and family who have supported me along the way. Thank you for believing in me and making this journey possible.

 

The Wisconsin Idea reminds us that knowledge should improve lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. I'm grateful to continue carrying that mission forward through research, education, and public engagement.

 

Thank you to the Wisconsin Alumni Association for this incredible honor, and On, Wisconsin!

Read more here: https://www.uwalumni.com/news/forward-derek-ho/