Billions In Plastic: Who Profits From This Environmental Crisis?

The plastic market is worth billions of dollars and is expected to be worth $943.76 billion by 2033. The industry deals with the production, distribution, recycling, and reuse of plastic, and it contributes to the economy in a big way. The average salary in the plastics industry in the United States is $67,233 per year, with salaries ranging from $36,500 to $108,500.

Plastic production in 2023

Plastic is a polymer, which means it is made by linking chains of molecules (monomers) together to create a large molecule. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. Hyatt discovered that by treating cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor, he could create a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory.

In 2023 alone, preliminary figures indicate that over 400 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide. The primary uses for plastic include packaging, which makes up about 40% of its usage, and building and construction, which makes up about 20% of its usage. Producing plastics from crude oil requires 7.9 to 13.7 kWh/lb, taking into account the average efficiency of US utility stations of 35%.

Plastics have had major benefits for mankind, ranging from medical devices to light-weight construction materials. For example, a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can result in a 6% - 8% increase in that vehicle's fuel economy. However, the production of plastics requires a significant amount of energy, and quickly burning plastics at very high temperatures breaks down many toxic components, such as dioxins and furans.

Plastic packaging

Plastic is a polymer, which means it is made by linking chains of molecules (monomers) together to create a large molecule. The term 'plastic' comes from the Greek word 'plastikos' and the Latin 'plasticus', which means 'fit for moulding'.

In 2023, over 400 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide. If global trends continue, it is projected that annual global plastic production will exceed 1.3 billion tons by 2060.

The production of plastics requires a lot of energy. It requires 7.9 to 13.7 kWh/lb, which is much higher than the energy needed to produce many other materials. For example, producing iron requires 2.5-3.2 kWh/lb of energy, and producing glass requires 2.3-4.4 kWh/lb.

Plastic in construction

Plastic is a polymer, which means it is made by linking chains of molecules (monomers) together to create a large molecule (a polymer). The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. Hyatt discovered that by treating cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor, he could create a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory.

Plastic has been used in construction since the early 20th century, and it makes up about 20% of its usage. Plastic is strong and durable, and it can be moulded into various forms, making it a versatile material for construction. It is also lightweight, which can increase a vehicle's fuel economy.

The sewage systems in many countries rely on the resiliency and adaptability of polyvinyl chloride. Plastic is also used in packaging, which makes up about 40% of its usage.

In 2023, over 400 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide. If global trends in plastic demand continue, annual global plastic production is projected to exceed 1.3 billion tons by 2060.

Plastic production and energy

Plastic is a polymer, which means it is made by linking chains of molecules (monomers) together to create a large molecule (a polymer). The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. Hyatt's discovery was revolutionary as it meant that human manufacturing was no longer constrained by the limits of nature.

In 2023 alone, preliminary figures indicate that over 400 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide. If global trends in plastic demand continue, it is projected that annual global plastic production will exceed 1.3 billion tons by 2060. The primary uses for plastic include packaging, which makes up about 40% of its usage, and building and construction, which makes up about 20% of its usage.

The production of plastics from crude oil requires 7.9 to 13.7 kWh/lb, taking into account the average efficiency of US utility stations of 35%. This is much higher than the energy needed to produce many other materials. For example, to produce iron (from iron ore) requires 2.5-3.2 kWh/lb of energy, and to produce glass (from sand) requires 2.3-4.4 kWh/lb of energy.

Plastics have had major benefits for mankind, ranging from medical devices to light-weight construction materials. For example, a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can result in a 6-8% increase in that vehicle's fuel economy, according to the Department of Energy.

Plastic polymers

The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. Hyatt treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor, and discovered a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory. This discovery was revolutionary, as for the first time, human manufacturing was not constrained by the limits of nature. The first synthetic plastic was created in 1909 for telephone and electrical components and was known as Bakelite.

The most familiar plastic polymers include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), epoxy, and polyester (PS). These materials are used in a diverse range of applications. Plastics are used in packaging, which makes up about 40% of its usage, and building and construction, which makes up about 20% of its usage. They are also used in medical devices, and lightweight construction materials.

Producing plastics requires 7.9 to 13.7 kWh/lb (taking into account the average efficiency of US utility stations of 35%). This is much higher than the energy needed to produce many other materials. For example, to produce iron (from iron ore) requires 2.5-3.2 kWh/lb of energy, and to produce paper (from timber) requires 3.2-6.4 kWh/lb.

Frequently asked questions