Executive stress in plastics world amps up

Plastics News recently featured a story quoting the CEO of consumer products juggernaut SC Johnson talking about the plastics treaty. Fisk Johnson's very candid and even eye-opening remarks will certainly reverberate in every fiber of American CPG products that use plastics to hold, deliver or manufacture.

Credit is due to Mr. Johnson for not sugarcoating the topic of microplastics being ingested into our bodies from all kinds of sources. This topic has been being batted around for decades now, and micro bit by micro bit, actionable steps are being taken to improve the situation.

Near the end of the article, when Johnson quoted researchers he had met saying a study from a relatively large number of human cadavers showed their brain tissues were storing "two heaping teaspoons of plastic on average." That doesn't include additional plastics in our organs and tissue. Some estimates suggest we have 50 percent more microplastic particles in our bodies than in 2016. Now that caught my attention. Now this is something worth stressing over.

Any person on the planet recognizes the significant importance and impact that plastics play in our world today. Our economy, health care services, medical devices that save lives, consumer products production, storage, delivery, transportation, research — every single aspect of our world is driven by our dependency, effectiveness and brilliance of what plastics have allowed our world to experience. We can't or won't give it up.

While one person can't change this issue, one thing I am concerned about as a behavioral scientist and Mayo Clinic-trained wellness coach is the impact on the emotional and physical health of executives and employees on the front line of this serious situation.

How does a CEO come to grips with knowing the research and long-term potential harm these chemicals can do to one's health, even an unborn child? How do they reconcile what they do around their legacy of work, family and contribution? How do they monitor their mental and physical side with the stress of these elements to protect themselves and support their families and causes?

We've seen these same ethical and moral challenges for executives in the tobacco industry, wine and spirits, hazardous chemicals industry, and even recent events of the FDA finally banning red dye used in food products due to cancer risks.

Add all these challenges to the new toxic microburst of activity: the recent California fires. The generation of toxic ash and gas, releasing asbestos, lead and other carcinogens into the air that will end up in the lungs and tissues of first responders and property owners sifting through their burned possessions for what's left. Like the 9/11 deaths from chemical inhalation, there will be fallout.

Microplastic ingestion is long, lingering and difficult to identify the specific correlations with other diseases. For now, it is the mystery illness of the future.

There are so many executives within the plastics and petroleum industry that are wrestling with this serious challenge in the world today. And yes, there are additional pathogens and toxins landing in our brains, eyes, mouths, on our skin, tongues and under our fingernails that could be doing as much harm to our bodies and minds as two teaspoons of microplastics. But two teaspoons is visual — we know what it is and how much it is.

It is my intention, as well as other professionals in the health care system and wellness coaching ranks, that we recognize this serious conversation and continue the research to confirm these findings. And we will continue to have the conversations around how we can help guide and coach leaders to deliver a difficult message while remaining healthy in mind and body while changes are being made. There is a next generation of workers that will be watching carefully whether or not they pursue a career in the plastics industry.

We don't need excuses to deflect attention. We need examples of healthy intentions.

Russ Riendeau is a behavioral scientist, wellness and peak performance coach. He's been a longtime executive search professional in the plastics industry.