An event in the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme series “Plastics: a systemic poison,” on October 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
What do plastic waste and the way we handle it reveal about the choices our society makes? Behind the promise of recycling, the management of end-of-life plastics exposes deep tensions between environmental imperatives, industrial interests, and political decisions. As waste volumes increase, one question becomes unavoidable: what does the way we deal with plastics say about our models of production, consumption, and regulation? Plastic waste now provides a unique lens through which to observe contemporary transformations. By tracing its flows, material properties, and the social dynamics that shape its circulation, Jeanne Perez highlights the trade-offs that structure waste-management systems and the limitations of current responses. Why does recycling occupy such a central place in public policy? What are the effects of this excessive focus on the end of the product life cycle? What alternatives can be considered given the difficulties involved in closing material loops? This event will open up a discussion on recycling mechanisms, the organization of waste-management systems, and the collective choices currently shaping how plastics are managed. The session will bring together Jeanne Perez, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in plastics and plastic waste, and Henri Bourgeois Costa, Director of Public Affairs at Fondation Tara Océan and co-designer of the series, and will be moderated by journalist Mathieu Vidard. After the discussion, you will have the opportunity to ask our guests all your questions. About the speakers Jeanne Perez is a postdoctoral researcher at the Espaces et Sociétés laboratory (ESO, CNRS) at Le Mans Université. Her research focuses on plastics and plastic waste through an interdisciplinary approach combining environmental chemistry and social geography. Her work falls within the field of rudology (the study of waste), developed notably in Le Mans, and examines the environmental, social, and territorial issues associated with plastics. Mathieu Vidard is a radio and television host and producer. Since 2019, he has hosted La Terre au carré, a program devoted entirely to ecology. Since 2017, he has presented a science segment every morning on the station’s breakfast show and hosts France 5’s “Science Grand Format” slot every Thursday evening in prime time. Henri Bourgeois Costa specializes in ecosystem geography. After beginning his career with NGOs in 1997, he developed expertise in water, biodiversity, and the industrial environment (eco-design, plastics processing, and resource recovery). Since 2019, he has worked at Fondation Tara Océan, where he develops advocacy on the circular economy, particularly regarding plastics and toxic substances, and promotes these issues internationally as part of United Nations negotiations. About the “Plastics: a systemic poison” series Organized in partnership with Fondation Tara Océan, the “Plastics: a systemic poison” series explores pollution that has become global. Since the 1970s, scientific research has revealed the scale of the problem: from oceans to mountains, invisible microplastics enter our bodies and disrupt ecosystems. The humanities and social sciences complement this picture by examining the economic and social mechanisms behind our dependence on plastics. As the seventh round of negotiations for an international treaty begins this year, these events bring together researchers and civil society to share knowledge and inform public decision-making. The goal is to collectively rethink our relationship with plastics and the environment. → Discover the series
Source: paris.fr — photo: © FMSH