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.
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.
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:
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Why are plastics bad for the environment?
Making them uses oil, gas or coal, which are non-renewableNatural resources that cannot be replaced after they are used. This means that they exist in a fixed amount on Earth. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are all non-renewable resources. fossil fuelsFuels that come from the Earth. Fossil fuels are all old life forms that have decomposed and been compressed over a long period of time under ground or under the sea. Coal, oil and gas are fossil fuels.. That means once we have run out of them, they are gone.
Factories that make plastics produce a lot of toxicPoisonous, harmful. fumes and carbon emissionsThe release of carbon into the Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. This contributes to climate change. which contribute to climate changeThe change in the usual conditions of weather (temperature, wind, rainfall etc.) on Earth over a long period of time. The climate has changed throughout the history of Earth, but current climate-change refers to an increase in global temperature..
They do not biodegradeTo break down and disappear over time. . 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.
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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
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.
Reuse plastic
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.
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.
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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.
Key words about plastic
Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. - 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.
Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. - 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.
Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. - The release of carbon in to the earth鈥檚 atmosphere which contributes to climate change.
Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. - 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.
Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. - 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.
Test your knowledge
Quiz
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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