Looking upstream: The linear economy & its social impacts

Community ActionPolicyEquity & Inclusion
Written By Upstream

The US and Canada’s current linear economies rely on extractive industries—like oil and gas drilling, logging, and mining—for the supply of raw materials to  manufacturers that produce single-use products and packaging. 

The ongoing high demand for plastic (a byproduct of the oil and gas industry), paper, aluminum, and other single-use packaging materials reflects a throw-away culture that prioritizes convenience and disposability without taking into account the full lifecycle impacts of these products—particularly their upstream production. In fact, 15% of wood harvested, 22% of aluminum mined, 40% of plastic created, and 48% of glass produced goes into manufacturing single-use packaging.

Focusing upstream on reducing resource consumption and improving production processes—rather than only trying to mitigate downstream effects like waste management challenges and consumer waste—can develop more resilient and equitable systems that prioritize long-term sustainability for the economy, people, and the environment. 

This focus is particularly critical because the operations that sustain the linear, take-make-waste economy overburden vulnerable and historically marginalized populations, often referred to as environmental justice communities, with significant social and health repercussions. Predominantly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), these communities frequently find themselves situated near industrial sites and disproportionately affected by air, water, and land pollution. 

Reuse and reuse infrastructure removes reliance on the devastating extraction and manufacturing processes that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, while providing safe jobs and bolstering local economies. It’s important to take a closer look at the systemic interconnection between single-use production and its impact on environmental justice in order to emphasize the necessity of a just transition to a new reuse economy.

Environmental Justice 

The byproducts of extraction and manufacturing processes—including emissions, waste, and toxic contaminants—raise urgent concerns about the inequities and injustices faced by local residents. Environmental justice communities frequently lack the systemic power and necessary resources to resist displacement or hold corporations accountable for their actions. Consequently, the benefits of resource extraction typically flow to stakeholders, while the negative consequences disproportionately affect the marginalized. This inequity not only highlights existing social injustices but also creates a vicious cycle in which poverty and environmental degradation reinforce each other.

These communities often depend on the same industries that harm them for employment, although the available jobs are generally low-wage and associated with negative health effects. Exacerbating this issue, companies frequently hire workers from outside the community rather than employing local residents, which limits the economic benefits for the surrounding population. Furthermore, these corporations often receive tax breaks and incentives that deprive local communities of additional opportunities for economic advancement.

The toll on environmental health

The environmental burdens created by extractive industries perpetuating single-use products go beyond the walls of their facilities. The resources they extract serve as raw materials for a wide range of disposable products, leading to significant ecological and public health challenges for nearby communities throughout the entire value chain.

Air

“Communities of Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ grapple with both environmental degradation and public health crises due to hazardous substances from over 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical plants along with steel and aluminum plants.”

Industrial emissions play a significant role in the deterioration of air quality, leading to serious respiratory issues for nearby populations. Numerous studies have established a clear correlation between exposure to industrial pollutants and long-term health problems. For instance, in the Southeastern regions of the country, where paper mills and fossil fuel production are prevalent, the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter has exacerbated respiratory diseases such as asthma and other chronic health conditions in surrounding communities. 

Alarmingly, residents in these areas have reported a higher number of hospitalizations for these underlying reasons. In 2021, Louisiana had the worst pollution in the US, with residents, on average, exposed to nearly four times more industrial toxic pollutants in their air, land, and water than the national average. Communities of Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" grapple with both environmental degradation and public health crises due to hazardous substances from over 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical plants along with steel and aluminum plants. Residents in the Alley are seven times more likely to contract cancer than the average citizen due to the tainted air quality. 

The environmental concerns in this area highlight systemic failures in governance that often prioritize the economic interests of industry over the well-being of marginalized communities. Such scenarios show a problematic pattern where marginalized communities are insufficiently protected.

Water

The generational impact of extractive industries on local waterways is equally concerning. Certain extractive and manufacturing processes can be water intensive, while also producing highly chemicalized wastewater. The Grassy Narrows First Nation in Ontario, for example, has been fighting against mercury contamination in the English-Wabigoon River system, stemming from pulp and paper mills that dumped an estimated nine tons of mercury into the waters during the 1960s and 70s. A 2024 published study found that wastewater from the Dryden Paper Mill has recently combined with the existing mercury and created high levels of the toxic compound named methylmercury. As the toxins accumulate in aquatic life and food sources, so do the local communities who consume them. 

The bi-national St. Lawrence River, which is significant for transportation, economy, ecology, and culture for Canada and the United States, has similarly struggled with ongoing pollution from the industries—including paper and pulp mills, mining, petrochemicals, residual materials, and metal and mineral processing—that have set up alongside this major shipping route. Assessment of water quality over the years has shown a presence of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), Bisphenols, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PDBEs), excess levels of nitrogen or phosphorus, ammonia, and not enough oxygen to function properly. Like the English-Wabigoon River System, the presence of these chemicals directly affects aquatic life, thus affecting livelihoods in the surrounding areas, including the Mohawk people of Akwesasne, and the cities of Cornwall (Ontario) and Massena (New York).

Land

In addition to air and water pollution, extractive industries significantly contribute to land degradation and pose serious health risks to locals by generating waste and toxic runoff that leach into local water supplies and soil. 

With contaminated land and water, local residents can struggle to grow food, jeopardizing food security, and also increasing the risk of chronic health issues such as respiratory problems, cancers, and developmental disorders in children. These elevated health risks, coupled with limited access to nutritious food options, undermine the well-being and economic opportunities of these communities. 

Instances of this can be seen in Canada, which is a global leader in aluminum production, with the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec accounting for a significant portion of the country's total aluminum output. Rio Tinto, a multinational mining company based in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region in Quebec, has been charged with more than 100 environmental infractions against its aluminum division in Quebec over the past 15 years. It has gained a reputation as one of the top environmental polluters in the province, by hiding spills and promoting a marketing scheme called “green aluminum.” (As aluminum remains primarily single-use with heavy manufacturing processes, there is currently no aluminum that can be considered “green.”). 

Similarly, the Alaskan North Slope is home to the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field, one of the largest oil fields in North America, and the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). At 800 miles long, TAPS is one of the world’s largest pipeline systems, essential for transporting crude oil. Together, the fields and TAPS cause about 500 oil and toxic chemical spills annually on the North Slope, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation lists more than 100 sites of contamination caused by the North Slope oil industry. 

Local residents feel the direct health and environmental consequences of the negligence of industries and their tailings. The reliance on fossil fuels for the manufacturing of single-use products exemplifies a broader pattern of industrial practices that contribute to environmental damage, yet often remain shrouded in secrecy.

Call for Change

In response to the harmful effects of extractive industries and manufacturing facilities, some affected communities engage in activism to reclaim their rights and advocate for environmental justice. The evolving grassroots environmental movement confronts the social ramifications of these industries, mobilizing local, national, and international support. 

A key strategy to mitigate all these negative effects is the promotion of reuse initiatives and advocating for reuse policies and programs that make reuse the norm. Limiting extractive industries and eliminating single-use are deeply interconnected, as any packaging solution, regardless of material, is going to have an impact. Reuse is a unifying solution to resolve both downstream and upstream impacts of single-use production and disposal. 

Reuse is also a key element of a circular economy, which focuses on the continual use of resources to minimize the extraction of raw materials and reduce waste. The path towards implementing reuse is a multifaceted effort that empowers local communities to identify and prioritize solutions that best meet their unique needs. When strong reuse infrastructure and policy are implemented, the demand for extractive and manufacturing processes decreases. Investing in a reuse-centric model can then foster the growth of robust, local economies. This shift can generate safe, sustainable jobs that enhance community resilience and bolster economic stability.

Such actions not only provide employment but also foster a sense of community ownership. Moreover, land previously designated for extraction or single-use manufacturing can be repurposed for reuse facilities, simultaneously boosting local economies, promoting environmental integrity, and mitigating the health risks associated with traditional manufacturing sectors. Championing reuse as one component of the grassroots movement not only presents a solution to the challenges posed by traditional extractive industries and single-use manufacturing but also lays the groundwork for justice.

“Limiting extractive industries and eliminating single-use are deeply interconnected, as any packaging solution, regardless of material, is going to have an impact. ”
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