Material Detail

The Case of Plastics is a role-playing game in which students debate the positive and negative perspectives of plastics from all sides, from activists and manufacturers to regulators and recyclers. Plastics are essential to how we currently live. Inexpensive and versatile, they have raised living standards, improved health and sanitation, and reduced demand on scarce natural resources. Yet they contribute to environmental degradation and potentially pose a risk to human health, causing many to question our current approach to plastics. The game teaches students to understand multiple perspectives and to recognize the complex issues facing today’s policy makers, while also emphasizing the role of history in the formation of policy. By understanding the history of the issues, the changes brought about by this industry, and the historical context for the characters’ positions, students are better able to engage in a contemporary debate while gaining real-world skills.

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