The Planet’s Being Burned for Profit... But It’s Not Too Late to Flip the Script!

What kind of person knowingly profits from planetary destruction? It’s a question that comes up a lot, and one that’s at the heart of a recent New Yorker piece by climate writer Bill McKibben.

Spoiler alert: the answer is messy, but it’s rooted in something we see every day: unchecked ego, denial, and a culture of “uncare.”

Bye Bye Plastic's Clean The Beat: LA

In the piece, McKibben walks us through how companies like ExxonMobil have adopted Big Tobacco-style tactics to dodge accountability. They knew the science. They knew the damage. But instead of facing the music (see what we did here) they deflected - pointing the finger at consumers, promoting doubt, and pushing a narrative that “your personal choices are the problem.”

It’s a playbook that banks on distraction. Because if we’re busy blaming each other for using plastic straws, we’re not questioning the billion-dollar systems that sell us single-use everything in the first place.

And here’s where things get real

British psychoanalyst Sally Weintrobe calls this the age of “Exceptionalism.” It’s the idea that the rules don’t apply to “me.” That our actions couldn’t possibly be that harmful. It’s what lets industries - and individuals - sleep at night while the world burns.

But as Weintrobe points out, there’s an antidote. Young people. Communities. Movements. People who are reclaiming their power, demanding better, and proving that care is radical.

At Bye Bye Plastic, we’re here for that energy

That’s why we’re not just pointing fingers - we’re actually building something better. From artist-led Eco-Riders to refill revolutions at festivals across Europe, we’re flipping the script on Exceptionalism, and bringing everyone along for the ride.

Because being part of the problem isn’t a given, and being part of the solution can actually be… kind of epic!!

→ Wanna join us? Head to our site or follow the good vibes on IG @byebyeplasticlife