From the Victorian industrial age to the current Green commercial initiatives, plastics have had a huge impact on the global economy and subsequently on the world’s environment.
Bakelite made from coal waste products, Nylon stockings, plastic waterproof cable coverings (that enabled the laying of communications cabling across the Atlantic), plexiglass, and perspex, and the explosion of plastic domestic goods that fuelled the consumer boom of the 1960s…it is hard to imagine another man-made substance that has had such a universal impact.
There are many different types of plastic such as:
Acrylic or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polyethylene (PE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
source – ac plastics inc.
The huge environmental problem of discarded and single-use plastics has led to the development of biodegradable plastics and plastic materials made partially or entirely from biological materials.
Glass bottles were easily recycled and, by offering the return of a small deposit, consumers were encouraged to return their bottles after consumption. The drawback of glass, its weight, and the process of washing and sterilising used bottles, made plastic bottles attractive to manufacturers.
People clutch water bottles on their way to work or the gym. Wine, turpentine, fruit juice, weedkiller, practically any liquid can be stored in plastic containers.
Plastic furniture was very popular in the 1960s. Robin Day’s design classic, the Polyside stackable chair has generated huge sales since its launch in 1963 and is still popular today.
Plastic products can be mass-produced, they are waterproof and are available in a wide range of colours. So how do they find their way into the oceans? Waste management can mean millions of tons of waste tipped into landfill sites. Some of these are offshore because of the smell of rotting waste mixed with non-biodegradable material.
Western countries faced with penalties for excessive use of landfills are exporting their waste to poorer countries. Some of those countries have no plans for recycling or disposing of this imported waste without adversely affecting the environment.
Plastic packaging for retail goods is over the top. Fruit and vegetables do not need to be cellophane wrapped. Loose fruit and vegetables should be the norm. Most customers would probably prefer to select their produce using their own bags or reusable bags provided by the retailers.
Charging customers for plastic bags at the checkout has reduced their usage but more can be done to avoid needless packaging.
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