Environmental impact—plastics

Environmental impact—plastics

Environmental Impact of Plastics

  • Plastic materials are synthetic polymers made from petroleum and natural gas products, which are finite resources.
  • The production of plastic involves energy-intensive processes and releases greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming.
  • Many plastics are designed to be durable and resistant to degradation, which makes them persistent in the environment.
  • Plastics can be categorised as thermoplastics (can be melted and reshaped) and thermosetting plastics (cannot be remelted once formed).

Pollution Issues

  • Improper disposal of plastics can lead to landfill and marine pollution. Plastics can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose.
  • Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can enter the food chain and pose threats to wildlife and potentially human health.
  • When plastics break down, they can release harmful substances like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which can potentially disrupt endocrine function in organisms.

Waste Management and Recycling

  • Plastic recycling involves sorting, cleaning, shredding, and reprocessing used plastic materials into new products.
  • Not all types of plastics are recyclable; the recycling symbol and number on plastic products represent the type of plastic resin and its recyclability.
  • Mechanical recycling reprocesses materials into new, useful products, while chemical recycling transforms plastics back into their original monomers or other useful chemicals.
  • But, some plastics cannot be recycled indefinitely due to degradation; each recycling cycle degrades the plastic’s properties, reducing its value.

Alternatives and Solutions

  • Scientists are developing biodegradable and compostable plastics, typically made from plant-based materials, to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle is a key approach to plastic waste management, involving limiting plastic use, finding alternatives, and ensuring proper recycling.
  • Lifetime product stewardship schemes help producers take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including end-of-life management and disposal.