Why value plastic?
Plastic keeps food fresher for longer, extending shelf life and protecting products on journeys that may be thousands of miles. Chemically inert, safe, hygienic and shatterproof, it is vital to a wide range of industries, including healthcare. For example, it helps extend the shelf life of blood from seven to 30 days. Plastic keeps the weight of cars, planes and trucks low, meaning far less fuel is burnt over their lifetime. Recyclable plastic pipes, windows and door frames are essential to the construction sector. Without plastic, no modern electronics would be possible. The list goes on. But mismanaged plastic waste is entering the oceans, which can cause harm to wildlife and ecosystems. Everybody knows that, so clearly things have to change. When it comes to plastic packaging, which is where most media attention is focused, sometimes a reuse or refill system is the most appropriate option for the environment – but providing people with a range of options seems the most likely and sensible outcome for a modern society. Switching away from plastic packaging is often not the best thing for the environment, as other materials can be heavier and require more land, energy and water to be produced.1 Using recycled plastic lowers the carbon footprint of a plastic product even more. For example, using 30% recycled content in PET packaging reduces carbon emissions by over 15%.2 Collecting as much plastic waste as possible so that it can provide muchneeded recycled material for a range of markets therefore seems logical. In most major EU countries, all plastic packaging is collected. The UK should collect it too. This will increase recycling rates and increase the amount of recycled material available. Revenue raised from the forthcoming plastic packaging tax could and should be used to expand and develop the UK’s recycling infrastructure. Plastic – and plastic waste – should be thought of as a valuable resource that is vital to a modern economy and vital to reducing carbon emissions.
1. Imperial College - Examining Material Evidence: The Carbon Fingerprint (2020) 2. Source: How2Recycle Recycled Content Calculator
PLASTICS EXPLAINED: EXPLORING THE KEY TOPICS
3
