Plastic Waste, Fast Fashion, and Fast Food: Our Legacy for Future Archaeologists

Two scientists wrote in a futuristic book that plastic waste, fast fashion, and leftovers from fast food will likely be a permanent and sustainable legacy that future archaeologists will discover from the current generation living on Earth. Professor Sarah Gabbutt, a paleontologist at the University of Leicester in England, and Professor John Zalasiewicz, a geologist, argue in their book "Discarded" that plastic, due to its durability and widespread use, will become a defining element for future archaeologists. Gabbutt tells the British newspaper The Guardian, "Future civilizations will find plastic wherever they dig on Earth, and this will be a signature that spans the globe." The study shows that not only plastic but also other products like aluminum beverage cans and clothing made from synthetic fibers will remain as part of the enduring legacy of modern humanity. Chicken, being a key component of fast food, is likely to be an everlasting part of future fossils. Today's broiler chickens are bred to grow quickly and die fat and young, and the massive volume of these chickens, even with their fragile bones, ensures that many will enter the geological record. At any moment, there are about 25 billion broiler chickens, raised for meat or egg production, in the world, far more than any other type of bird. Gabbutt and Zalasiewicz say that chicken is likely the most abundant bird in Earth's history, and the sudden emergence of large numbers of these birds, which are five times larger than their wild ancestors, will certainly astonish future archaeologists. The two scientists estimate that clothing will also enter the fossil record of humanity. For thousands of years, humans made their clothing from natural materials like cotton, linen, and silk, which easily decompose. Today, however, the growing global population often wears clothing made from synthetic fibers that are mass-produced and quickly consumed and discarded. Gabbutt states that around 100 billion garments are produced annually, double the amount from 20 years ago. She told The Guardian, "I work on a project to clean rivers in Leicester, and about a quarter of what we pull out of the river is clothing." Concrete is another example of these technological fossils. This material, which exists in vast quantities on Earth, will easily be preserved throughout history. The two scientists mention in their book that cities like New Orleans, which are sinking, will likely leave behind massive concrete technological fossils for future generations. Half of New Orleans is currently below sea level, and Gabbutt and Zalasiewicz predict that this city, which will likely be completely submerged by the end of this century, is poised to become a massive technofossil, with its skyscrapers, building foundations, and sewer lines all preserved for centuries. However, fossils will not be the only remnants of our lives; the footprint of our activities will also leave a significant mark. For instance, humans have drilled over 50 million kilometers of oil and gas wells and conducted 1,500 underground nuclear tests, the geological impacts of which will be stunning. Gabbutt and Zalasiewicz say these "underground scars" are almost entirely permanent. The two scientists warn that the amount of things humans are currently producing is excessive and will last for millions of years. They invite readers in their book to ask themselves before buying anything whether they really need it.