Plastic and its responsible use

AND ITS
RESPONSIBLE

Plastic USE
VOL. 2 APRIL 2021

THE ORIGIN OF WHY PLASTIC IS A
PLASTIC WORLDWIDE

MADE ONLY BY REGINA HEVIA PROBLEM TODAY

COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD THAT

RECYCLE PLASTIC

AND WHAT THEY DO

MXN 150 d

Ecoworl

ORIGIN
OF
PLASTIC

By Regina Hevia

Plastics have become a very Years after this invention it was
important part of our lives. But adapted to more than 25,000
what exactly is plastic and products.
how was it made? In 1907 the first 100% synthetic
polymer was created, which
Before plastic became so was called Bakelite.
important it went from being a
strictly natural product to a Ideal for the production of
synthetic and widely produced household objects and
one. electrical components, thus
Some of the earliest uses of began the production of
plastic date back 3,500 years elements such as parachute
when the Olmecs of Mexico ropes armor helmets, phones,
used natural plastics cameras, watches, radios,
from gum tree sap to create jewelry, etc.
gum balls.

In 1868 John Wesley Hyatt Plastics can be found anywhere
invented celluloid, the first but understanding their
plastic as a substitute for ivory. chemical composition and our
In this way, the hunting of uses, we must benefit from
animals for the manufacture of their versatility and at the same
certain products began to be time be aware of their impact
avoided. From the celluloid they on our planet.
made billiard balls, knife
handles and frames of glasses.

PLASTIC | 2

APRIL 2021

TIPES OF PLASTIC TODAY

1 Polyurethane 37 Polycarbonate

Polyurethane is generally produced in the Polycarbonate is ideal for use in the field
form of foam, a soft foam that retains its of optics and security glazing, due to its
shape. It is particularly recommended for bisphenol content this plastic can be
furniture upholstery. On the other hand, harmful to health. the most common uses
hard foam is used in the construction are on CDs, DVDs, sunglasses etc.
industry. This plastic can also be used in
the manufacture of paints or elastic textile
fibers.

28 Polystyrene 52 terephthalate (PET)

Foam-shaped, hard and brittle, It has a relatively good recycling values,
polystyrene is problematic due to the the fact that polyethylene terephthalate
content of carcinogens. Its most common bottles release acetaldehyde and antimony
uses can be found in electrical cable into the liquid they contain builds up a
insulation, parts for household appliances, problem. Despite this, they are not
yogurt containers, aluminum foils for considered dangerous to health, you can
packaging. find it in bottles, packaging for food and
cosmetics, household appliances.

APRIL 2021 ADVANTAGES

Some of the advantages of the use of plastic DISADVANTAGES
is that they are easy to mold so they are
useful for multiple functions, one of the main
qualities is that they do not conduct
electricity or cold, so they are ideal to be
used as insulators. They can be used in
almost any field, even medical elements as it
is resistant and durable, they can be used in
different areas, it is a light material, which is
why it is used in the manufacture of multiple
elements of daily use this material shows
great resistance to corrosion and damage
caused by certain chemicals.

Now we will talk about the
disadvantages. Some can take
centuries without breaking down.
Most plastics do not resist high
temperatures, which is a limitation
for their use. It is very difficult to
mix two different types of plastics,
and when it is done, its quality
decreases considerably. Due to its
high resistance and its inability to
biodegrade, a level of
contamination is occurring that
could be Irreversible.

PLASTIC | 4

PLASTIC

WHY PLASTIC IS A
WORDWIDE

TODAY

In recent years, plastic pollution has become a global problem that needs to be solved with extreme urgency. As
politicians and industry leaders ponder how to respond to the consequences of climate change, plastic pollution,
caused mostly by single-use packaging and bags, continues to accumulate in the most remote places on the planet.
The plastic does not disappear, it only breaks into smaller and smaller pieces that are distributed throughout the
biosphere.
Most of the polluting plastic is invisible, not only because it is too small after a fragmentation process but also
because the vast amount is located offshore. the fragments into which the plastic is divided and that pollute all the
seas of the planet accumulate toxic substances that cause serious damage to the ecosystem, destroying animal and
floral life in many parts of the globe and contaminating natural reserves that are later used for consumption human.
Depending on the type of plastics, products made with this material can take up to 1,000 years to decompose,
making it necessary to put limits on their manufacture and promote plastic recycling in professional and personal
settings.
we need to choose between continuing to use plastic or continuing to live on our planet

HOW WE
CAN
RECYCLE

Plastic is one of the most harmful materials Use kitchen utensils and cutlery made of wood,
for the environment. It is estimated that bamboo, or stainless steel. They are a good
around eight million tons of plastic end up in alternative to disposable plastic cutlery, cups and
the ocean each year, harming all the plates. If you have no other option but to buy
organisms that live in it. The consequences of these types of products for practical reasons, try
not recycling are increasingly notable. not to be single use. 50% of the plastic on the
market is disposable.
What can we do to recycle plastic and
reduce its use? PLASTIC | 6

Around 1 million plastic bottles are consumed
in the world every minute, according to
figures from the global movement Break Free
From Plastic. Not all of them are fully
recyclable. As an alternative option, you can
buy water in returnable bottles or use filters to
drink tap water.

The use of plastic straws is something
dispensable in most cases, but the truth is
that Spain is the European country that
consumes the most. We use 13 million straws
every day, according to Greenpeace: we use
them for a few minutes but they take up to
500 years to degrade, causing very serious
damage to ecosystems.

PLASTIC

CREATIVE WAYS OF USING
PLASTIC AT HOME

About 400,000,000 tons of plastic are produced We can recycle and help the dogs that live on the
each year. street by making a feeder and a water trough, so
10 million tons end up in the oceans less than when a dog approaches it can feed.
10% is recycled the solution is in each one of us You can do many things with tires that no longer
and our communities. work, such as swings, compost, tables or even beds for
Recycling is a process that transforms used pets.
materials, which would otherwise be simple If you use a lot of plastic bottles you can transform
waste, into very valuable resources. The them into flowerpots, trash cans, school bags
collection of used bottles, cans, newspapers, etc., there are many ways to recycle at home, everything is
in your imagination
for a healthier and more equitable society

THE FUTURE OF

PLASTIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-bjTsCL3as
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPllpwMuV9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU_SXFK8anA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeVybt5Uao

PLASTIC | 8

countries in the Austria
world that recycle The recycling percentage is 63%, in the Styria region it
has become a world benchmark in waste management and
AND WHAT THEY DO. recycling. Thousands of specialists travel to the state to
learn the policies and actions they undertake in recycling.
Swiss Germany
In the 80s, the country had serious pollution problems, This country manages to recycle 62% of all the garbage it
the rivers were full of nitrates and phosphates and the generates, began with the disuse of plastic bags and was
soil with heavy metals. They chose to take drastic followed by measures of waste classification,
measures and they have worked. environmental education from an early age and social
awareness. An example of the commitment of German
Recycling is mandatory, if the fines are not made, they society is the supermarket without packaging.
amount to 10,000 euros. Sorting must be done carefully, Belgium
therefore most of the garbage is recycled. In Switzerland, In Belgium the recycling rate is 58%, there are even
93% glass, 91% aluminum and 83% PET bottles are regions where the recycling rate is 75% Waste is separated
recycled. The measures they took were successful, they for reuse, recycling or composting.
not only help to take care of the environment, they also Netherlands
translate into economic and energy savings. The recycling rate is 51% and they have the best policies
in addition to the environment in the world, to recycle,
they are leaders in water care and energy use.

PLASTIC | 9