The Secrets Behind How Plastics Benefit the Environment
As an industry we are overcoming the bad name that has been created for plastic and while many of us use mostly recycled materials (we ourselves purchase upwards of 60% recycled material and recycle 100% of waste), we still have some way to make the industry completely sustainable.
The fact of the matter is that it isn’t plastic itself that is causing an issue, but rather the way in which humans dispose of it. And there are many benefits to the environment that have come about as a direct use of plastic usage.
In this blog we are going to look at seven of the secret ways plastic has been benefiting the environment.
- We Can Do More with Less
The reason plastic is so widely used is simply down to how versatile it is as a material. There are so many types of plastic that there is almost no application it cannot be used in.
Additionally, it can be an extremely durable, long-lasting material, able to perform at extremely high standards for unrivalled amounts of time. This means that using plastic over a more traditional material not only cuts costs, but all reduces the amount of maintenance or replacement required over time.
- Improved the Motor Industry
Use of plastics in the motor industry has allowed designers and engineers to make headway in how much cars are affecting our environment. By manufacturing parts out of lightweight, plastic material, they are able to still produce high spec vehicles but with much lower miles per gallon usage, helping to reduce fuel consumption and motor pollution.
Some products, such as plastic dash boards, steering wheel covers and door trims, that break apart to allow the release of the air bags in the event of an impact, can only be made from plastic. In the days of cars being made from wood, metal and leather, they lacked today’s safety features which may keep you alive following an accident. The air bags themselves are made from plastic (nylon) that can withstand the air pressure and thus stay intact when inflated.
- Advancements inFood Transportation
Advancements in the way food is packaged has not only allowed for shelf life to be significantly extended but has also resulted in a reduction of weight during transportation. This, in turn, has allowed those transporting food to reduce their emissions and reduce overall food waste.
- Construction has Become More Sustainable
Plastic has even been used to help make the construction industry much more sustainable. Its use in areas from cladding to cabling has made homes far more energy efficient and helped to reduce the environmental impact of heating and cooling buildings.
- The Move Away from Single Use
While more traditional materials may be considered less impactful to our environment, that may be an incorrect assumption. Most traditional materials were also single use, meaning they had one objective and when done with, were thrown away to never be used again. This is not the case with most plastics where the reuse, repurpose, recycle mantra has come into play.
- Constant Evolution
The plastic industry is constantly growing, learning and evolving. It seems each week a new advancement has been made, another way to help protect the environment rather than pollute it. And the ways in which we use plastics are evolving to.
3D printers are just one example of this, allowing people to manufacture what they need right where they are, eliminating the necessity for transportation and therefore helping to reduce emissions. This technology is still in its infancy, who knows how it will develop?
To find out more about how plastics can help you work more sustainable, contact the Rayda team today.
