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Plastic and sustainability

A plastic is a type of non-natural material that can be easily shaped.

In this article you can learn:

  • What plastics are made from
  • Why plastics are used and what they are used for
  • Why plastics are bad for the environment
  • How we can help reduce use of plastic

This resource is suitable for sustainability topics for primary school learners.

Video - Plastic and sustainability

In this video, learn plastics and their impact on the environment.

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What are plastics made from?

Plastics are normally made from a fossil fuel: oil, gas and even coal. The material is heated up so it breaks down into smaller molecules. These are then joined together in a new way, making plastic.

There are many types of plastic and all they have different uses.

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Why is plastic used?

There are lots of different types of plastics but most are strong, light and last a long time.

They 诲辞苍鈥檛 get damaged by water and some types of plastic can resist heat, chemical damage and electricity.

They also can be made to look nice, including being made into lots of different colours. This is why they are used for things like furniture and decoration.

Here are some examples of different plastics, what they are used for and how easy they are to recycle:

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 7, PETE - A plastic water bottle, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET/PETE) is a commonly used plastic. You'll find it in bottles, food packaging and even clothing (eg. polyester). It is widely recycled, often made into sportswear. (Davyd Hruts / Alamy Stock Vector ; Zolt谩n Papp / Alamy Stock Photo)
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Why are plastics bad for the environment?

  • Making them uses oil, gas or coal, which are . That means once we have run out of them, they are gone.

  • Factories that make plastics produce a lot of fumes and which contribute to .

  • They do not . This means they won鈥檛 break down naturally and unless we tidy them up, they will be around forever.

  • Plastic litter is very harmful to wildlife, both on land and in the ocean.

The damage caused by plastic waste is on the increase and people are being warned to take action now before it is too late.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 4, llustration of a dolphin looking ill after consuming a plastic bottle, Plastic in our oceans can harm or even kill birds, fish and other marine life.
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How can we help reduce the impact of plastic?

If we follow the simple rule of reduce, reuse, recycle with plastics, we will do our bit to stop plastic harming the environment.

Reducing our plastic use is the best solution out of the three options.

Reduce plastic

One hand holds plastic straws while another holds bamboo straws
Image caption,
Switching to more environmentally friendly materials can help you reduce how much plastic you use. Plastic straws are now banned in the UK. Reuseable straws can be made from materials like bamboo. (Maria Mikhaylichenko / Alamy Stock Photo)

Reduce the amount of plastic we use, especially single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles and plastic cups.

We can reduce our plastic use by using plastic alternatives such as a bamboo toothbrush, a metal water bottle or paper or fabric bags instead of plastic bags.

One hand holds plastic straws while another holds bamboo straws
Image caption,
Switching to more environmentally friendly materials can help you reduce how much plastic you use. Plastic straws are now banned in the UK. Reuseable straws can be made from materials like bamboo. (Maria Mikhaylichenko / Alamy Stock Photo)

Reuse plastic

Two plants are being grown in pots made from plastic bottles
Image caption,
It can be fun to think of ways to reuse plastic items! Here plastic bottles are used as pots to grow plants in. (SAWASSAKORN MUTTAPRAPRUT / Alamy Stock Photo)

Reuse plastics as much as possible before recycling them.

For example, you could reuse a takeaway container as a lunch box. You can also reuse plastic bags that you have at home.

Two plants are being grown in pots made from plastic bottles
Image caption,
It can be fun to think of ways to reuse plastic items! Here plastic bottles are used as pots to grow plants in. (SAWASSAKORN MUTTAPRAPRUT / Alamy Stock Photo)

Recycle plastic

Recycle plastic that we do not need anymore. If we recycle plastic, it means we won鈥檛 have to make more new plastic using non-renewable materials so it is better for the environment.

Most plastics can be recycled but often this doesn't happen. Make sure to recycle your old plastic bottles, packaging and other plastic items you use.

Plastic can only be recycled a few times, so it is much better to reduce the plastic you buy and use.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, Close-up of recycling information on plastic packaging, Recycling information on packaging lets you know if it has been made from recycled plastic already and whether it can be recycled again. (Carolyn Jenkins / Alamy Stock Photo)
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of plastic?

Advantages of plastic

  • Plastic is a versatile material that can be moulded in to different shapes.

  • Plastic is cheap to produce.

  • Plastic is lightweight and durable. Unlike metal it does not corrode or rust, which means it is good for containing liquids.

  • Plastic does not conduct heat or electricity, which means it can be used in the manufacturing of electrical products.

Disadvantages of plastic

  • Most plastic is made from natural materials (coal, oils and gas) that are not renewable and contribute to global warming and climate change

  • Factories making plastics produce a lot of toxic fumes that can damage our health. They release carbon emissions which contribute to climate change.

  • Plastic does not biodegrade so plastic waste finds its way in to our environment, polluting land, rivers and oceans.

  • Plastic waste can be dangerous to wildlife, causing harm to all types of animals, which can get caught in plastic waste or eat small bits of plastic. This can cause the animals to die. Many birds and fish have been found with large amounts of plastic in their stomachs.

  • The amount of plastic we use is increasing and a lot of this plastic is designed for single-use and is used only once. This means that the amount of plastic thrown away has also increased causing even more damage to the environment.

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Key words about plastic

- Coal, oil and gas are the three fossil fuels 鈥 these are our non-renewable energy sources. They are called fossil fuels because they are made from dead animals and plants. These animals and plants are compressed underground over millions of years and they eventually turn into fossil fuels.

- Natural energy resources that cannot be replaced after they are used. There is a fixed amount of them on Earth. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are all non-renewable resources.

- The release of carbon in to the earth鈥檚 atmosphere which contributes to climate change.

- This is the long-term change in weather patterns (temperature, wind, rainfall etc.) on Earth, including its side-effects, for example increased drought and flooding.

- The ability of a material to breakdown and disappear over time. Some materials are dissolved by bacteria or other biological elements. If a material is biodegradable, it means that it can be consumed by microorganisms. It is an important process in ecology and waste management.

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Test your knowledge

Quiz

Challenge

Challenge

Go on a plastic hunt!

  • Find things made of plastic that you use in your room, home or school. Do some research to see if you can find any alternatives online. For example, if your toothbrush is plastic, can you find a non-plastic one?

Remember! If you want to make a change to a non-plastic alternative, you鈥檒l need to agree with your adults what items you could swap. Think about other ways you and your household may be able to reduce the amount of plastic you use.

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