The Environmental Impact Of Different Plastic Materials
Forever associated with convenience, the convenience of diverse plastics used across different application fields has made them very common in day-to-day life. However this has raised concerns on their environmental degradation due to the various plastics that are available. These consequences have to be realized if one has to make wiser decisions as well as prevent himself or herself from causing further harm to the environment.
Types of Plastics and Their Environmental Footprint
Polyethylene (PE)
Widely known as plastic, polyethylene is often found in grocery plastic bags and is also used as a packaging material. Low costs and high performance notwithstanding, polyethylene cost factors are more excessive as well. Polyethylene is non-biodegradable and can last for many centuries out in the open which becomes a menace to the society. The segment is notable for providing such components as microplastics that others can consume and deprive their habitat of healthy ecosystems and food chains.
Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is considered as the second most widely used thermoplastic resin after polyethylene and applications range from automotive industries all the way to food packaging containers. More so dependable than PE, it is quite more environmental friendly but parts of it are still a concern. Toxic materials can be released by ones PP when degrading, while it is energy intensive production activities PP in fact clusters are energy beneficial. Although it can easily be used again, only a small percentage of polypropylene product users participate in pp recycling programs.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC stand for Polyvinyl Chloride which is used in tubes, flooring and medical apparatus is also one of the polymers with a broad range of environmental impacts. For the reason that the crafting of PVC involves emissions of toxic wastes such as dioxins, which through the environment, bring health damages to human beings and damages the earth as well. Also, dumping of PVC is environmentally hazardous because it is not bio degradable and will leach when applies in fashion.
Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene is included in some other disposable products such as cutleries and polystyrene foam packs and rasines and other junk plastics are irritating somehow. They do not decompose at all and thus bulky the landfills and contamination of oceans for centuries. Polystyrene pieces get eroded through marine actions forming pieces that make marine life at risk both physically and chemically.
Biodegradable Plastics
Standard biodegradable plastics are common materials made of corn starch and are promoted as being friendly to the environment. Nonetheless, their advantages on the ecology are contingent on their proper disposal. Such plastics require particular methods to be able to get renewed and therefore on ordinary landfills cannot be renewed. Even so, they can add to plastic waste issue if not correctly treated.
JSJM Technology is a company that is committed to development and improvement of sustainable solutions in the formulation and production of plastics. It’s our aim to develop our products minimizing their ecological imprint concentrating on the innovative technologies and green processes. More information about our activities and approaches can be found on the website of the company.