The Daily Plastic Production Problem

Plastic is everywhere, and it's a problem. Plastic is made from petroleum or natural gas, and it's estimated that plastic production uses four per cent of global oil production. In the last 65 years, plastic production has outpaced any other manufactured material, with over 9 billion tons of plastic produced since the 1950s. While plastic has its benefits, like water resistance and lower costs, it has also created a lot of waste. About 7 billion tons of plastic waste has been generated, and as of 2015, only 9% of plastic waste was recycled, with another 12% incinerated. The remaining 79% has built up in landfills or ended up in the environment, with an estimated 7 million tons in the sea each year.

Plastic production has risen since World War II

Plastic is now one of the most commonly used man-made materials, but its popularity only began to rapidly increase after World War II. The war created a great expansion of the plastics industry, as industrial might proved as important as military success. The production of synthetic materials was prioritised to preserve scarce natural resources, and plastics provided these substitutes. Nylon, for example, was used during the war for parachutes, ropes, body armour, and helmet liners. It also allowed women to buy stockings instead of expensive silk or heavy wool alternatives.

The United States invested heavily in plastics during the war, giving out over a billion dollars to private companies. This investment, along with the need for durable, lightweight, and inexpensive materials, led to a 300% increase in plastic production in the US. The development of new polymers during the war, including polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene, also contributed to the rise in plastic production.

After the war, there was a glut of materials and manufacturing plants, along with a booming economy and consumers ready to spend. Plastic manufacturers worked with women's magazines to promote plastic home goods and win over consumers. Products made from polyethylene, such as garbage pails, squeeze bottles, and hula hoops, were advertised as better and more carefree. Through injection moulding and thermoforming, plastic goods could be produced quickly and affordably, making luxury items more accessible to people worldwide.

The industry experienced over 15% growth between 1946 and 1960, and by 1960, plastic had surpassed aluminium in production. During the 1960s and 1970s, single-use plastics emerged and grew in popularity, with items such as shampoo and soda bottles switching from heavy glass to lightweight plastic. Today, plastic has saturated our world, and it is estimated that about 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year.

Only 9-10% of plastic is recycled

Plastic is one of the most commonly used man-made materials, with about 300 million tons of plastic produced globally each year. However, only about 9-10% of this plastic is recycled. The remaining plastic waste builds up in landfills or ends up in the environment, including the oceans. This waste breaks down into smaller fragments over time, which are easily ingested by marine life, leading to potential health risks for these organisms and the ecosystem as a whole.

The low recycling rate of plastic is concerning, given that it is a significant contributor to pollution and has a long-lasting impact on the environment. The durability and resistance to degradation that make plastic so versatile and popular are the very features that make it problematic. Without effective management strategies, such as reusing, recycling, or substituting other materials, plastic waste will continue to accumulate in ecosystems worldwide.

Some companies have started to address their plastic footprints by reducing wasteful use, collecting and reusing plastic trash, incorporating recycled plastic or biodegradable materials, and modifying product designs to minimize plastic use. For example, Electrolux introduced a range of vacuum cleaners made from recycled plastic, while Coca-Cola developed a plastic bottle containing plant-based materials. Procter & Gamble has also set a long-term goal of using 100% recycled or renewable materials in its products and packaging.

Initiatives like the Plastic Disclosure Project aim to raise awareness and change the behaviour of large plastic users, including companies, universities, hospitals, and sports groups. By encouraging organisations to assess their plastic consumption and implement more sustainable practices, it is hoped that plastic waste can be reduced and recycling rates improved.

Plastic is made from petroleum or natural gas

Plastic is everywhere, with over 9 billion tons produced since the 1950s. That's a lot of plastic! But where does it come from? How is it made?

Plastic is derived from natural, organic materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt, and, most commonly, crude oil. Crude oil and natural gas are fossil fuels, and they are the feedstocks, or raw materials, that are used to make plastic. These fossil fuels are complex mixtures of thousands of compounds and need to be processed before they can be used.

The first step in the process is the extraction of these raw materials. Then, the refining process transforms the crude oil and natural gas into different petroleum products, which are then converted to yield useful chemicals, including monomers. Monomers are molecules that are the basic building blocks of polymers, which are long chains of repeating molecules. To create these long chains, the crude oil is heated in a furnace and sent to a distillation unit, where it separates into lighter components called fractions. Each fraction contains hydrocarbons with a similar number of carbon atoms, with smaller molecules towards the top and longer molecules towards the bottom of the column. One of these fractions, naphtha, is crucial for making plastic.

After distillation, the obtained long-chain hydrocarbons are converted into hydrocarbons that can be turned into many important chemicals used for the preparation of a wide range of products, from plastic to pharmaceuticals. There are two main processes used to produce plastics: polymerisation and polycondensation. Both of these processes require specific catalysts to facilitate the chemical reactions that transform the raw materials into plastic.

This is how plastic, one of the most commonly used man-made materials, is created. With so much plastic ending up as trash, it is important to consider strategies for managing it, such as reusing, recycling, substituting other materials, or using waste-to-energy technologies.

Plastic waste often ends up in oceans

Plastic is one of the most popular and commonly used man-made materials. Since the 1950s, more than 9 billion tons of plastic have been produced, with about 300 million tons of plastic being produced globally each year. However, only about 10% of this is recycled, with the remaining plastic being incinerated, building up in landfills, or ending up in natural environments.

• Plastic put in bins ends up in landfills. When rubbish is transported to landfills, plastic is often blown away due to its lightweight nature. It can then make its way to drains and enter rivers and the sea.
• Litter dropped on the street is carried by rainwater and wind into streams, rivers, and drains, which eventually lead to the ocean.
• Careless and improper waste disposal, including illegal dumping, contributes to the plastic surge in the seas.

Additionally, during storms and heavy rain events, plastic emissions can increase significantly as trash is washed into waterways. Rivers are the primary pathways for carrying plastic from land to sea. Coastal cities in middle-income countries are the world's plastic emissions hotspots, as they are closer to the ocean and have inadequate waste management systems.

The presence of plastic in the oceans has had a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Marine mammals, such as whales, seabirds, and sea turtles, ingest plastic or get entangled in it, leading to injuries and mortality. It is estimated that at current rates, plastic will outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050.

To address this crisis, local and global organizations, companies, and initiatives are working to clean up and prevent plastic pollution. The Plastic Disclosure Project aims to change the behaviour of big plastic users, including companies, universities, hospitals, and sports groups, by raising awareness and encouraging the reduction of plastic consumption and the use of recycled or biodegradable materials.

Companies are being pushed to reduce plastic use

The world has produced more than 9 billion tons of plastic since the 1950s, with about 300 million tons of plastic produced globally each year. The vast majority of this has been thrown away, with only around 9-10% of plastic waste recycled. As of 2015, 79% of plastic waste had built up in landfills or ended up in the environment, and an estimated 7 million tons in the sea.

The perception of plastics is changing, and companies are being pushed to reduce their plastic use and report on plastic pollution. The Plastic Disclosure Project, modelled on the Carbon Disclosure Project, aims to change the awareness and behaviour of big plastic users, including companies, universities, hospitals, and sports groups. Hundreds of organisations worldwide are being asked to assess and report their plastic use, recycling processes, and policies to reduce plastic consumption.

Some companies have already made changes, such as Electrolux, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble. In Britain, the UK Plastics Pact includes targets to eliminate single-use plastic, with around 60 companies, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Unilever, signing up. In April 2023, Nestlé pledged to make all its plastic packaging 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025, and rival Unilever has made a similar pledge. Procter & Gamble has produced recyclable shampoo bottles made with 25% recycled beach plastic, and IKEA has pledged to phase out single-use plastic products from its stores and restaurants.

To reduce the environmental and economic risks posed by plastics, mandatory corporate disclosure is necessary to create regulatory certainty and push companies to be transparent and accountable. Without it, policymakers cannot track progress toward the common goal of ending plastic pollution.

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