Plastic

Plastics are synthetic or semi-synthetic polymers derived primarily from petrochemicals. They are lightweight, durable, and highly moldable, making them integral to modern consumer goods, packaging, textiles, and medical applications. Common types include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyamides like nylon.

Production and Use

Plastics are manufactured through polymerization or polycondensation processes, often incorporating additives like plasticizers, stabilizers, and flame retardants. Global production exceeds 400 million tons ^[1] annually, with single-use plastics dominating consumer markets. Their low cost and versatility have made them ubiquitous in disposable products, electronics, food packaging, and many other categories of consumer goods.

Health and Environmental Concerns

Plastics can leach hazardous chemicals such as bisphenols (BPA, BPS) and phthalates, which are linked to endocrine disruption and other health risks. Microplastics—small fragments shed from larger plastics—have been detected in air, water, and human tissue. Concerns about bioaccumulation and toxicity have been raised in a growing body of research. ^[2]

Plastic waste can cause environmental degradation. Most plastics are non-biodegradable, persisting for centuries in landfills and oceans. Improper disposal leads to marine pollution, harming wildlife and entering the food chain. Typically, plastics can be disposed of through landfill, recycling, or incineration. Only about 9% of plastics ever produced have been recycled, while 12% has been incinerated. The remainder, 79%, is either in landfills or discarded as litter. ^[3]

Regulation and Future Outlook

Some governments have introduced bans on certain plastic products, restrictions on additives, and incentives for recycling. Most countries don’t regulate plastics at all, and while knowledge of the marine pollution caused by plastics is widespread, governments have yet to respond meaningfully to the evidence of endocrine-disrupting and toxic effects of plastic exposure.