Omar Khalid
Plastic is a synthetic material derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. It can also be made from renewable resources such as waste biomass, plant crops, or animal waste. The word plastic comes from the Greek word plastikos and the Latin plasticus, both meaning fit to mould. Plastic was first produced in the 20th century, but natural plastics such as horn, tortoiseshell, amber, rubber, and shellac have been used since ancient times. Today, plastic is an integral part of our lives, from pillows to toothbrushes to keyboards. However, plastic waste is a significant issue, with most plastics ending up in landfills or the environment, causing pollution and harm to wildlife.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plasticity | The defining characteristic of plastics, allowing them to be moulded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms |
| Synthetic or Semisynthetic | Plastics are synthetic when derived from crude oil, natural gas or coal, and semisynthetic when derived from renewable products such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, bacteria and other biological substances |
| Polymer Composition | Polymers are the chemical class of materials that make up all modern plastics. They are formed by covalently joining monomer units together in the form of chains |
| Toxicity | Plastics have low toxicity, but toxic chemicals can biomagnify up the food chain |
| Biodegradability | Biodegradable plastics degrade upon exposure to sunlight, ultra-violet radiation, moisture, bacteria, enzymes, wind abrasion, or insect attacks. However, most plastics degrade slowly over hundreds to thousands of years |
| Production | Between 1950 and 2017, 9.2 billion metric tons of plastic were produced, with over 400 million metric tons produced in 2023 alone. If trends continue, annual production will exceed 1.3 billion tons by 2060 |
| Environmental Impact | Plastic waste pollutes landscapes, oceans, air, and bodies, and has entered the fossil record. It is targeted by activists, with several American cities banning single-use plastic bags |
| Historical Use | Natural plastics such as horn, tortoiseshell, amber, rubber, and shellac have been used since antiquity, with ancient Mesoamerican populations creating rubber balls from naturally occurring plastic |
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What You'll Learn
Crude oil and natural gas
The process of creating plastic from crude oil and natural gas involves several steps. Firstly, the raw materials are extracted from the Earth's crust through drilling. Then, they undergo a process called "
The next step is polymerization, where the smaller molecules produced during the cracking process are chemically combined to form polymers. Polymers are large molecules formed by joining many smaller molecules, or monomers, together in chains. These polymers are the foundation of plastic, as they provide the characteristic plasticity that allows plastic to be molded, extruded, or pressed into various solid forms.
The majority of plastic in use today is synthetic, derived from crude oil and natural gas, due to the ease of manufacturing and processing these fossil fuels. However, there is a growing trend towards the development and use of bioplastics, which are made from renewable resources such as plant crops, to create more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics.
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Synthetic and biobased plastics
Plastic is a range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their plasticity allows them to be moulded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms. This adaptability, combined with a wide range of other properties such as low weight, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, low toxicity, and low-cost production, has led to their widespread use around the world.
Plastic can be synthetic or biobased. Synthetic plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal, while biobased plastics come from renewable products such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, bacteria, and other biological substances. The vast majority of plastic in use today is synthetic because of the ease of manufacturing methods involved in processing crude oil. However, the growing demand for limited oil reserves is driving a need for newer plastics from renewable resources.
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor to discover a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory. In 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, meaning it contained no molecules found in nature. Baekeland had been searching for a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, to meet the needs of the rapidly electrifying United States.
Bioplastics are typically manufactured from bio-based polymers and can contribute to more sustainable commercial plastic life cycles as part of a circular economy, in which virgin polymers are made from renewable or recycled raw materials. Carbon-neutral energy is used for production, and products are reused or recycled at their end of life. Compared with fossil-based plastics, bio-based plastics can have a lower carbon footprint and exhibit advantageous material properties. They can also be compatible with existing recycling streams, and some offer biodegradation. However, these benefits can have trade-offs, including negative agricultural impacts, competition with food production, unclear end-of-life management, and higher costs.
As of 2018, bioplastics represented approximately 2% of global plastic output. With continued research, investment in bioplastic companies, and rising scrutiny on fossil-based plastics, bioplastics are becoming more dominant in some markets, even as the output of fossil plastics also steadily increases.
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Plastic etymology
The word 'plastic' comes from the Greek πλαστική (plastike), which means "capable of being shaped or molded," and which stems from πλαστος (plastos), or "molded." The material was given this name due to its plasticity, or ability to be molded or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms.
The word 'plastic' first appeared in the English language in the 17th century, referring to the art of sculpture. It was not until the 19th century that the word took on its modern meaning, when plastic was invented to replace materials such as ivory, rubber, and shellac. Plastic's adaptability, low weight, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, low toxicity, and low-cost production have led to its widespread use around the world.
The word 'plastic' is used to describe a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Most plastics are produced from natural gas and petroleum, but a growing minority are produced from renewable resources like polylactic acid. Between 1950 and 2017, 9.2 billion metric tons of plastic were estimated to have been made, with more than half of this amount produced since 2004.
The use of plastic has become ubiquitous in modern life, with plastic shopping bags, plastic bottles, and plastic wrap all becoming common household items. However, plastic pollution has become a major global issue, with plastic waste accumulating in the environment and causing harm to humans, wildlife, and their habitats. Plastic's resistance to degradation means that it can persist in ecosystems for hundreds to thousands of years, breaking down into microplastics that can be ingested by organisms and accumulate in their bodies and tissues.
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Plastic's history
The term 'plastic' comes from the Greek word 'plastikos' and the Latin 'plasticus', meaning 'fit to mould' or 'capable of being moulded'. Plastics are synthetic or semi-synthetic materials composed primarily of polymers, which are formed by covalently joining many monomer-repeating units together in the form of chains.
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor to create 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 creation of new materials helped free people from the social and economic constraints imposed by the scarcity of natural resources.
In 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, meaning it contained no molecules found in nature. Baekeland had been searching for a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, to meet the needs of the rapidly electrifying United States.
The 20th and 21st centuries have been dubbed the 'Plastics Age', with plastics becoming an essential part of our lives, especially in the last 50 years. Between 1950 and 2017, 9.2 billion metric tons of plastic were produced, with more than half of this amount produced since 2004. In 2023 alone, preliminary figures indicate that over 400 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide.
Today, most plastic is made from natural materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt, and crude oil through a polymerisation or polycondensation process. However, there is a growing demand for plastics made from renewable resources or waste materials, as the current widespread use of plastic has led to significant environmental concerns due to plastic waste.
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Biodegradable plastics
The term "bioplastic" is frequently used to refer to a wide range of goods that may be bio-based, biodegradable, or both. However, not all bioplastics are biodegradable, and some biodegradable plastics are fully petroleum-based. Bioplastics are made from renewable raw materials, while biodegradable plastics are made from petrochemicals with biodegradable additives.
The development of biodegradable plastics is an attempt to make plastics more environmentally friendly. They are designed to address the issue of plastic waste, which often ends up in landfills or the environment, contributing to pollution. Biodegradable plastics are intended to break down more easily, reducing the amount of plastic waste.
There are two main classes of biodegradable plastics:
- Bioplastics: Derived from renewable raw materials such as plant crops, carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, bacteria, and other biological substances.
- Plastics with Biodegradable Additives: Made from petrochemicals with added substances to enhance biodegradation.
Some companies produce biodegradable additives to promote biodegradation. Additionally, researchers have genetically engineered bacteria to synthesize completely biodegradable plastics, such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). However, as of 2021, these options were still relatively expensive.
While biodegradable plastics offer a promising solution, there are challenges to their implementation. Many biodegradable plastics are designed for industrial composting systems, requiring well-managed waste systems. If these plastics end up in conventional waste streams or the environment, they may not degrade effectively.
Furthermore, not all biodegradable plastics are truly compostable. Some may only break down into smaller pieces, like microplastics, which can still contaminate other recyclable plastics and the environment. To address these issues, universal standards and a compostable logo have been introduced to guide consumers and ensure the biodegradability of products.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastics are synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Most plastics are produced from natural gas, petroleum, and other fossil fuels. However, a growing minority are produced from renewable resources like polylactic acid.
The term 'plastic' comes from the Greek word 'plastikos' and the Latin 'plasticus', meaning 'fit for moulding' or 'capable of being moulded into various forms'.
Plastics are used in a wide range of products, including toys, phones, vehicles, and homes. They are also found in medical equipment, such as blood transfusion bags, replacement joints, and flexible catheters.
