2023-08-21
We Cannot Live Without Plastic, But Something Has to Change
In our modern world, plastic has become inescapable in our daily lives. From packaging our food to building our cars and homes, plastic is everywhere. Global plastic production reached a shocking amount of 390 million metric tons in 2022 ("Annual Production of Plastics Worldwide from 1950 to 2021"). Its versatility, durability, cost-effectiveness, and safety have made plastic an integral part of our daily lives.
Plastic has transformed various industries and revolutionized technology. Here's why we cannot live without it:
Durability: Plastic is resistant to weather, chemicals, and impact, making it ideal for use in everything from packaging to construction materials.
Versatility: Plastics can be molded into virtually any shape, making them adaptable to a wide range of uses.
Cost-Effectiveness: Plastic is often more affordable and resource-efficient to produce and transport than alternative materials.
Safety: Plastic is non-reactive and provides a sanitary medium for food packaging and medical supplies, reducing the risk of contamination and infection. Additionally, the inherent properties of plastic, including its lightweight, shatter resistance, electrical insulation capabilities, chemical resistance, and versatility, make it an exceptional material for crafting safety precautions such as helmets and safety glasses.
Resource Efficiency: Plastic products are often lighter than alternatives, leading to reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during transportation. For instance, plastic packaging is a lot lighter than alternative materials.
Less Waste: Due to its durability and long lifespan, plastic can reduce the need for frequent replacements, leading to less overall waste.
Energy Saving: Plastic insulation in buildings and homes can significantly reduce energy consumption. Similarly, lightweight plastic in vehicles can lead to improved fuel efficiency.
Despite these benefits, the durability of plastic means it can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to significant environmental challenges. It's estimated that 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year (" Ocean Pollution Facts")
While we rely heavily on plastic, we must balance the benefits of plastic with the initiative to protect our planet. While seeking alternatives to plastic may provide short-term solutions, nearly every other material has its own set of flaws that makes it unsustainable for long-term production. Hence, rather than investing in the creation of new solutions that would require extensive research and development, we can leverage pre-existing technologies to achieve sustainability. This is exactly where Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic becomes invaluable.
PCR plastic (post-consumer recycled) is made from recycled plastic waste, and PCR can massively reduce the amount of new plastic being produced and minimize the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our environment. By using PCR plastic, we can enjoy the benefits of plastics while reducing its environmental impact.
Research published by the Association of Plastic Recyclers found that recycling plastic can significantly reduce energy consumption. Not only that, research from Formosa Chemicals has shown that using PCR plastics can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 70% compared to conventional plastics. To conclude, using PCR plastics can contribute to sustainability by:
Waste Reduction: Since PCR plastics make use of resources already in circulation (pre-existing waste), it significantly reduces the need to extract new raw materials and the amount of waste that goes to landfill or leaks into natural environments.
Lower Carbon Footprint: The process of making PCR plastics is generally less energy-intensive than producing new plastic, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions. (Check out our PCR PowerPoint about PCR footprint).
Conservation of Resources: Producing PCR plastics uses less water and fewer natural resources compared to new plastic production.
Avoiding Harmful Effects on Wildlife: By reducing the amount of plastic waste that is improperly disposed of, we can limit the harm done to wildlife.
At Sunta Chemical, we understand the need for a sustainable approach to plastics. While we continue to provide our customers with general-grade plastics for their various needs, we also offer PCR plastics. We aim to help our customers make a smooth transition towards more sustainable practices without compromising the quality and efficiency of their products.
We believe that the future of the plastic industry lies in embracing sustainable alternatives like PCR plastics while continuing to benefit from the unique properties that make plastics so indispensable. Achieving the balance between the benefits of plastics and reducing environmental impact is possible, and it is absolutely necessary for our planet.
If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will provide you with the most effective solutions for using PCR plastics.
Footnotes
"Annual Production of Plastics Worldwide from 1950 to 2021." Statista, 12 Jun. 2023, www.statista.com/statistics/282732/global-production-of-plastics-since-1950/.
"OCEAN POLLUTION FACTS." Conservation International, 15 Mar. 2023, www.conservation.org/stories/ocean-pollution-facts?gclid=Cj0KCQjwoK2mBhDzARIsADGbjeoYagRvgoiimIqyOgE8_y-vldJx_E17LWLnjo2YRMZ2w9MM85fP55oaAtG2EALw_wcB.
"LIFE CYCLE IMPACTS FOR POSTCONSUMERRECYCLED RESINS: PET, HDPE, AND PPc." The Association of Plastic Recyclers, 1 Dec. 2018, www.conservation.org/stories/ocean-pollution-facts?gclid=Cj0KCQjwoK2mBhDzARIsADGbjeoYagRvgoiimIqyOgE8_y-vldJx_E17LWLnjo2YRMZ2w9MM85fP55oaAtG2EALw_wcB.
