FACTS ABOUT PLASTICS
- The UK consumed 5 million tonnes of plastics in the 1950’s, that figure has risen to 100 million tonnes today.
- Today, more than 700 types of plastic are produced which fall into 18 main polymer families.
- The most common application for plastics is in packaging. Without plastics, 400% more material by weight and 200% more material by volume would be needed to make packaging. This means that the weight of packaging would increase four-fold, production costs and energy consumption would double and waste volume would increase by 150%. Another example is the plastic carrier bag which is 70% thinner than it was when introduced 25 years ago. It would take 7 lorries to deliver the same number of paper bags as a single lorry can deliver of plastic bags.
- Recycled plastic can be used to replace traditional wood products, for example decking and fencing. In these instances the plastic holds nails and screws better than wood, is virtually maintenance free and lasts for 50 years.
- Another major user of plastics is the automotive industry. Over the last 20 years the use of plastics in cars has increased by 114%. It is estimated that without plastics today’s cars would be at least 200kgs heavier. Over the average 150,000kms lifespan of a car this weight saving would contribute to a fuel saving of 750 litres. This equates to a reduction in oil consumption of approximately 12 million tonnes and CO2 of 30 million tonnes per annum in Western Europe.
- For the environmentalists who see plastics as an evil it is worth pointing out that only 4% of the world’s oil reserves is used to make plastics. Furthermore, at the end of their useful life plastics can be recycled or used as an alternative fuel. Plastic products have a calorific value that is at least equal to coal but with lower CO2 emissions. Also, much of today’s renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines, would not be possible without the use of plastics.
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