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Is Recycling The Answer To The Global Plastic Crisis?
All About Plastic!
From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, plastic is a household staple for all of us. It has transformed our lives in terms of food security, medical care and quality of life. The word plastic comes from the Greek word Plastikos, meaning “moldable” or “formable.”
In the following weeks, we will discuss how plastic is made and why it is impossible to imagine life without it. We will also share with you how something so transformative can be both a blessing and a curse.
In the following weeks, we will discuss how plastic is made and why it is impossible to imagine life without it. We will also share with you how something so transformative can be both a blessing and a curse.
How is plastic made?
Extraction of Crude Oil
Refining of Crude Oil
Production of Ethene
Conversion of Ethene to Polythene
What is Plastic Used for?
Plastics are everywhere. They are cost-effective, versatile and highly adaptable. They can be made with very specific properties, from hard to soft, colourful to plain, or flexible to rigid.
Here are five major industries that are dependent on plastics: the packaging industry, medical equipment manufacturers, the global fishing industry, electronics and, of course, textiles.
Here are five major industries that are dependent on plastics: the packaging industry, medical equipment manufacturers, the global fishing industry, electronics and, of course, textiles.
Plastic Packaging
Think about your favourite snacks, drinks, or even the latest gadgets you order online - chances are, they all come in plastic packaging. About 30-40% of all packaging material is made from plastic. Why is plastic so popular?
Plastic helps preserve food and other perishable goods for long periods by keeping bacteria and moisture out.
Plastic weighs very little. It’s easy and cheap to transport and carry.
Plastics can be moulded into any shape and size to package anything from beverages to solid goods like snacks or toys
Plastics in medical devices are often designed to be biocompatible, meaning they don't evoke an immune response from the patient. Plastic makes implants like pacemakers and artificial joints safe.
It’s cheap and easy to mould even intricate items such as syringes, IV bags, and catheters.
Plastic medical equipment doesn't break as easily as glass or metal alternatives. It’s a safer choice.
As a result, the pharmaceutical industry is responsible for over 300 million Tonnes of plastic waste each year, half of this single use!
Plastic helps preserve food and other perishable goods for long periods by keeping bacteria and moisture out.
Plastic weighs very little. It’s easy and cheap to transport and carry.
Plastics can be moulded into any shape and size to package anything from beverages to solid goods like snacks or toys
Plastic helps preserve food and other perishable goods for long periods by keeping bacteria and moisture out.
Plastic weighs very little. It’s easy and cheap to transport and carry.
Plastics can be moulded into any shape and size to package anything from beverages to solid goods like snacks or toys
Plastics in medical devices are often designed to be biocompatible, meaning they don't evoke an immune response from the patient. Plastic makes implants like pacemakers and artificial joints safe.
It’s cheap and easy to mould even intricate items such as syringes, IV bags, and catheters.
Plastic medical equipment doesn't break as easily as glass or metal alternatives. It’s a safer choice.
As a result, the pharmaceutical industry is responsible for over 300 million Tonnes of plastic waste each year, half of this single use!
Plastic helps preserve food and other perishable goods for long periods by keeping bacteria and moisture out.
Plastic weighs very little. It’s easy and cheap to transport and carry.
Plastics can be moulded into any shape and size to package anything from beverages to solid goods like snacks or toys
Medical Equipment
Medical plastics, including syringes and IV bags, have made healthcare safer and more accessible.
Plastics in medical devices are often designed to be biocompatible, meaning they don't evoke an immune response from the patient. Plastic makes implants like pacemakers and artificial joints safe.
It’s cheap and easy to mould even intricate items such as syringes, IV bags, and catheters.
Plastic medical equipment doesn't break as easily as glass or metal alternatives. It’s a safer choice.
As a result, the pharmaceutical industry is responsible for over 300 million Tonnes of plastic waste each year, half of this single use!
Plastics in medical devices are often designed to be biocompatible, meaning they don't evoke an immune response from the patient. Plastic makes implants like pacemakers and artificial joints safe.
It’s cheap and easy to mould even intricate items such as syringes, IV bags, and catheters.
Plastic medical equipment doesn't break as easily as glass or metal alternatives. It’s a safer choice.
As a result, the pharmaceutical industry is responsible for over 300 million Tonnes of plastic waste each year, half of this single use!
Textiles
What Percentage of our Clothing is Plastic?
Fishing Gear
Plastic is cheap and versatile. The fishing industry knows that and uses lots of plastic fishing gear, including nets, lines, traps and packing straps. Plastic can endure the wear and tear of fishing activities, including exposure to saltwater, abrasion, and the physical stress of catching and hauling in fish. With plastic, there is no corrosion or rust, and fishing gear stays strong and effective. Once it breaks or gets lost at sea, it is cheap to replace it with new fishing gear.
But here is the problem: according to The Ocean Clean Up, over 75% of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch originates from fishing activities!
But here is the problem: according to The Ocean Clean Up, over 75% of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch originates from fishing activities!
Electronics
eWaste
Why Is Plastic A Problem?
Plastic is everywhere but comes at a steep cost to our environment. In the upcoming posts, we'll dive deeper into four major reasons plastic is a pressing issue: waste management, carbon footprint, toxins, and microplastics.
Stay tuned to learn about the environmental impact of the global plastic crisis, its ties to climate change, and the devastating consequences for marine life.
Stay tuned to learn about the environmental impact of the global plastic crisis, its ties to climate change, and the devastating consequences for marine life.
Waste Management
Plastic is non-biodegradable. Unlike organic materials like food and paper, plastic does not easily decompose. Once plastic is produced, it remains in the environment for hundreds of years, and plastic waste accumulates in landfills and the ocean.
Many regions around the globe lack the necessary infrastructure for effectively collecting and disposing of plastic and other waste, which puts impoverished communities at risk.
A lot of rubbish drifts down rivers into the ocean. The need for seal disentanglement is a perfect example of a failing waste management system.
Many regions around the globe lack the necessary infrastructure for effectively collecting and disposing of plastic and other waste, which puts impoverished communities at risk.
A lot of rubbish drifts down rivers into the ocean. The need for seal disentanglement is a perfect example of a failing waste management system.
Carbon Footprint
Besides mountains of rubbish, our plastic consumption is also a major contributor to the ongoing climate change crisis through carbon emissions!
According to the OECD, plastic production accounts for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing carbon emissions associated with plastic production is critical to mitigating climate change and protecting the environment.
We need to shift to eco-friendly materials to save our planet.
According to the OECD, plastic production accounts for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing carbon emissions associated with plastic production is critical to mitigating climate change and protecting the environment.
We need to shift to eco-friendly materials to save our planet.
Toxins
Plastics contain many additives, which is a fancy name for harmful chemicals. As plastic items degrade over time, especially when exposed to sunlight and heat, these chemicals leach into our soil and water, contaminating the food chain.
Common toxins from plastics include dioxins, phthalates, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, lead, cadmium and many other hazardous ingredients. Some of them are known to cause cancer and other devastating impacts on our health and the planet.
Common toxins from plastics include dioxins, phthalates, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, lead, cadmium and many other hazardous ingredients. Some of them are known to cause cancer and other devastating impacts on our health and the planet.
Microplastics
Big plastic items quickly break down into smaller pieces. When plastic particles are smaller than 5mm, we refer to them as microplastics and eventually nano-plastics.
The biodegradation rate of microplastics is very low, and they remain in the environment, especially the ocean, for a long time. Microplastics enter the food chain through fish and even drinking water, with unforeseeable consequences for animals and humans.
The biodegradation rate of microplastics is very low, and they remain in the environment, especially the ocean, for a long time. Microplastics enter the food chain through fish and even drinking water, with unforeseeable consequences for animals and humans.
Plastic Recycling
Plastic waste is a global challenge. Millions of tonnes of plastic waste end up in landfills and oceans each year. Although we have been told plastic is recyclable, we don’t see it happening as much as needed.
In fact, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, only 9% of all plastic that has been produced since the 1950s has been recycled. The remaining 91% either end up in landfills or, most likely, the ocean. Why only 9%? What makes plastic hard to recycle? What can be done to improve the management of plastic waste?
Over the next few days, we’re going to shed more light on the Plastic Recycling Industry. We’ll cover points such as what it is and why it’s failing, amongst other important questions.
In fact, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, only 9% of all plastic that has been produced since the 1950s has been recycled. The remaining 91% either end up in landfills or, most likely, the ocean. Why only 9%? What makes plastic hard to recycle? What can be done to improve the management of plastic waste?
Over the next few days, we’re going to shed more light on the Plastic Recycling Industry. We’ll cover points such as what it is and why it’s failing, amongst other important questions.
What is Recycling?
Step 1: Collection
Step 2: Sorting
Step 3: Cleaning
Step 1: Shredding
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