Plastics and Sustainability Overview
A substance or product must be socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable in order to be considered really sustainable. The Three Pillars of Sustainability are the names given to these components. Plastics contribute favorably to each of the three sustainability pillars.
Through their inherent recyclability, energy recovery possibilities, and potential for energy savings, plastics significantly contribute to the sustainability of the environment. Plastics are a significant export item and play a significant economic role in the UK. The plastics sector is a significant, diverse employer that places a strong emphasis on training and education.
Environmental Stewardship
A very positive environmental profile exists for plastics. Plastic manufacture accounts for only 4% of global oil production, and it requires a lot less energy to make than other materials. Due to their durability and light weight, plastics are used in pipes, packaging, vehicles, and airplanes to reduce weight.
When plastics have served their purpose, whether as a bottle or a car bumper, they can either be recycled or, if doing so is not feasible economically or environmentally, their calorific value can be recovered through energy from waste incineration, which can serve as a significant source of domestic energy. Plastics can be thought of as “borrowing” oil as a result.
Plastic Packaging
Plastics as a packaging material offer advantages that are unmatched. This is because to the lightweight, resource-efficient, and superior barrier qualities of plastics. These characteristics make plastic packaging extremely energy-efficient and reduce waste.
Packaging made of plastic saves waste.
The food or items that are included in packaging need, on average, ten times more energy to produce than the packaging itself.
UK food waste is 2%, compared to 40–50% in underdeveloped countries. This is largely because of plastic packing technologies.
A cucumber quickly loses moisture, and if it weren’t shielded by 1.5 grams of plastic, it would be unsellable in three days.
Packaging made of plastic is lightweight and uses little resources.
The amount of waste and energy produced, the amount of weight carried, and the cost of packaging would all increase if plastics were not utilized.
Packaging made of plastic has a strong track record for innovation and lightweighting. While the average weight of bottles and containers reduced by 21% between 1991 and 2000, the average weight of plastic film (g/m2) decreased by 36%.
Packaging made of plastic is recyclable.
In 2005, recycling made up 21.8% of the plastic packaging that was put on the market.
The UK recycled 6499 tonnes of EPS packaging in 2006. This accounts for 42% of the EPS packaging produced in the UK.
In the UK, recycling of waste management plastics occurs on a large scale, and much research is done to identify the most effective recycling methods. The industry makes every effort to recover as much raw material as possible because it is a valuable resource and has a high market value.
Plastics can be recycled via mechanical recycling or feedstock recycling; mechanical recycling is the simplest type of recycling. Plastics that soften when heated are reformed into molding granules through mechanical recycling in order to create new goods. Collection, sorting, baling, and size reduction into flake (film and sheet) or granules—which may subsequently require washing and drying—are all steps in the process.This is then extruded and cut into pellets that are suitable for reuse after being re-compound with additives and/or new virgin raw material.
Feedstock recycling entails dissolving polymers into their component elements under pressure or heat. These components can then be used to create new compounds and polymers. Recycling feedstock is advantageous when the materials being recycled are polluted or mixed.
Financial Stability
A strong manufacturing sector is essential to a sustainable economy, and plastics contribute significantly to the UK economy.
Around 7400 plastics companies operate in the UK, contributing to the country’s economy.
The industry has a £17 billion annual revenue.
Plastics exports, which total about £4.5 billion, provide much-needed foreign exchange.
The entire supply chain is located in the UK for many plastics products, particularly those that are related to building.
Microeconomically, plastics are especially important since they allow for the production of single-moulded components in intricate geometries at a very low cost. Costs for fixture use and assembly are greatly decreased as a result.
Products made of plastic also save money over their whole lifespan:
due to their small weight, they require less fuel when in transit.
reduced maintenance demands; for instance, PVC windows don’t need to be painted.
Using plastic insulation reduces the amount of energy needed for heating.
decreased wastage of food and consumer goods because to the unrivaled protective qualities of plastic packaging.
Leading the way in innovation, R&D, and development is the plastics sector.
Foto de Andrzej Gdula: https://www.pexels.com/es-es/foto/vaso-hojas-hierbas-vista-superior-11188236/
