Commercial Plastics: Uses and Problems

Introduction

In a world where humanity has dramatically sped up climate change and caused the destruction of many habitats and species, there is increasing discussion around business practices and their harmful effects on our planet. As large corporations are responsible for much of the damage, it is important for growing businesses to carry out good practices so they do not repeat the errors of their larger cousins and cause further environmental issues. One common problem is that of pollution and contamination of ecosystems, with various plastics being a major threat to the health of the biosphere. In this blog, we’re going to take a brief look at why plastics are used and the problems they cause.

First, we will take a moment to refamiliarise ourselves with what a plastic is: a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc., that can be moulded into shape while soft, and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form (Oxford Languages). ‘Organic’ in this sense means containing hydrocarbon molecules, which are necessary for life as we know it. It does not mean, however, that they are all naturally occuring and capable of natural decomposition. In fact, more than 99% of plastics produced annually are definitively non-biodegradable, nor are they made from renewable sources. They are primarily produced by refining petroleum (crude oil) in various ways to produce polymers with various properties for different uses. Not only is the harvesting of petroleum often destructive to the landscapes in which is extracted, but the refining process also releases toxic fumes into the atmosphere, as well as the final product killing many species when it is disposed of and leaks into the wild. Despite this, not all plastics are equally as harmful, and there are methods to make the most of plastics already produced so that they may continue to be useful throughout their lifespan, which may be hundreds of years depending on the plastic and the product.

Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics, simply put, are plastics that can be melted down and reshaped, and are typically the plastics we associate with recycling. They’re most often used for lighter products, where they’re only expected to be used once before being discarded, such as drink bottles or in food packaging (e.g. PET, known as ‘polyester’). Some are also suitable for fixtures that are expected to be replaced or outdated, such as plumbing pipes (e.g. PVC). Due to their prevalence and generally ‘disposable’ nature (expected to be discarded after use) these are typically the plastics we see washing up on beaches or in the stomachs of whales. This is quite disturbing, as thermoplastics are the type most easily reused and repurposed due to them being remouldable. This predominantly means it is authorities and companies not correctly disposing of their thermoplastic waste, opting to send it to landfill (or flytip) as it is cheaper than arranging for the plastics to be recycled. Due to poor plastic waste management, most plastic used for products is fresh from the processing plant, meaning far more thermoplastics are produced than actually necessary.

It is not all bad news on this front, however. Some companies are exclusively producing various items (predominantly packaging) from recycled materials. One such brand is ECO PET, which takes discarded bottles and clothes and turns them into products to be used by other businesses. As most thermoplastics take many decades to break down, this is the best use for thermoplastics currently in existence, as keeping them in use (theoretically) prevents them from ending up in the various habitats where they are a danger to wildlife.

Thermosetting Plastics

Thermosetting plastics are the most problematic when it comes to proper disposal or recycling. Due to a chemical reaction during their production, once set they’re incapable of being melted down, and simply burn of decompose (disintegrate, in this context) when heated. While this process does generally make them more durable than thermoplastics, it comes at the cost of them being very difficult to deal with once they’re no longer fit for purpose. This means items such as vehicle tires can linger for years, and combustion is often the method used to deal with this waste. While burning these as fuel can produce power in plants, plastics produce huge quantities of harmful chemicals when burned. These are released into the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse affect and harming those that breathe them in.

There are alternative methods of repurposing these plastics, however. Gjenge Makers Ltd in Kenya have devised a process of combining various waste plastics with sand to create lightweight, durable bricks suitable for a variety of construction purposes. In future, it is likely more projects like this will exist, helping repurpose what is otherwise useless material into durable structures and other useful items. A patent was also made in 2020 for a process that supposedly recycles thermosetting materials and allows for the production of new products. If this pans out, we may see far less plastic going to landfill and hopefully, far less being produced in the first place.

Biodegradable Plastics

Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can degrade ‘naturally’, in the sense that exposure to micro-organisms, certain lighting and water can cause them to break down into non-harmful compounds, in the same way biological material does. While they have ‘bio’ in their name, they are not necessarily all derived from natural materials. Many are in fact produced from petroleum, but made in such a way that microbes can digest them, while others are porduced from various plant materials. These are on the rise, and are ideal for single use, short-lifespan items such as drinking cups and food containers. They’re not suitable for products that might be in storage for extended periods of time, such as bottled drinks or non-perishable food.

They often come with a downside, however, in that many are only ‘biodegradable’ when used in industrial composters, where conditions are controlled and optimised to break them down. Many of these plastics will degrade little in landfill or household composters, and become just as harmful as non-biodegradable plastics if released into ecosystems when they fragment and enter the bodies of plants and creatures.

Bioplastics

These are the plastics made solely from organic (living) materials, such as various plants. These have the advantage of not producing the waste that plastics made from petroleum do during their manufacture, and come from materials that are not finite in the way that crude oil is. It does not necessarily mean that they are biodegradable, however. Many bioplastics can take centuries to decompose, much like their petroleum counterparts.

Conclusion

Generally speaking, the solution for the problems caused by plastic is proper repurposing and recycling. It is vital that companies do their utmost to make sure any non-degradable  plastics are taken to the appropriate recycling bodies. It’s also important that the use of recycled plastics becomes more prevalent, so that there is less incentive to produce new plastic and make better use of the material that already exists. The ideal solution is that biodegradable bioplastics become the norm, so that fewer toxic fumes happen during production, and fewer plastic items remain for long periods in the wild.

There is more to cover on this topic, such as what microplastics are and why they’re harmful, as well alternatives to plastics. These will be addressed in a future article.

Published: 01/04/22