Plastic waste: a fantastic (big) problem
About 70 years after the first plastic products appeared on the market, a world without them is practically unthinkable.
Today we are looking for all kinds of remedies to avoid plastics as much as possible.
Plastics production has now grown +200% since its introduction in 1950.
Ultimately, this raw material remains an extremely attractive material that has no equal in terms of flexibility and usability.
On the other hand, the pollution caused by irresponsible use is undeniable.
Why plastics are fantastic
There is currently a short-sighted view of switching back to paper solutions.
For example, for packaging materials and straws, the economic, ergonomic and hygienic disadvantages are often put aside in order to convey “a nice story”.
But people forget that for some ‘solutions’ the ecological impact on our planet is often greater.
Cheap
- The biggest advantage over other comparable materials (in terms of flexibility, strength, etc.) lies in the price: plastics are generally the cheapest solution.
- An alternative raw material does not necessarily have to be found to reduce plastic waste: what is mainly needed is a transition to smarter use of plastics.
Safe and transparent
Plastic is tough, resilient and excellent at absorbing shock, which is why it is one of the main reasons why cars are becoming safer every day.
- Plastics are also the material of choice used in protective materials against injuries in sports and leisure activities.
- The transparency of plastics enables safety features such as bulletproof vests and windows.
Transparent plastics can even help block harmful UV rays that can harm your health.
Recyclable
- A huge number of plastic consumer products can be reusable practically countless times, just think of beverage bottles, cups, plates, bowls…
It can also be recycled and turned into new products.
It can even be melted into oil and fuel, but science still faces some challenges here
Not conductive
- Plastics do not conduct electricity: alternative materials, such as rubber, are less suitable for these tasks.
- Combined with its toughness and versatility, this is the go-to material for all types of electronics.
Hygienic
- Plastics can easily be made sterile, which prevents the transmission of bacteria and benefits people’s overall health.
As well as in the food sector, there are few substitutes for plastics that can meet the high requirements against contamination.
- Plastic food and beverage packaging is among the most recycled packaging.
We see an increase in the recycling rate for this group every year.
- After all, plastics are almost odorless, which significantly increases their reuse and makes them practically usable in everyday life.
Just think of drinking bottles, food containers…
The other side of the coin
Years of careless processing of plastics after use have created an enormous waste soup in our oceans. However, this is where the business world, governments and consumers are to blame.
A floating problem
Our oceans already contain 150 million tons of waste.
75% of it is plastic waste and 1 million tons are added every year.
Many living beings die a painful death as a result.
To date, insufficient research has been conducted on the direct effects of (micro) plastics on human health.
It has been proven that plastic takes 350 to 400 years to decompose.
The main pollutants of our oceans and rivers are packaging materials along the coastline
A solution requires efforts and a change in mentality from everyone
Unfortunately, plastics do not just disappear, although much effort has been made to look for biodegradable plastics, there has not yet been a significant breakthrough in this area.
On the other hand, it is not only companies but also consumers who can help solve the problem of plastic pollution by handling single-use plastics more carefully and sorting them correctly.
There is also a lot of room for improvement at the source, for example, plastic manufacturers often handle plastic granules too casually, which are lost during transport and ultimately end up in the sewerage system.
Final word
Plastics are a fantastic problem with which our society has had a love/hate relationship for decades. However, one must carefully evaluate these often emotional “solutions” and look for rational long-term improvements in the use of plastics.
Because no matter how you want to look at it: plastics will never be indispensable in our society.
