In recent years, the global ‘de-plasticisation’ movement has gained momentum, with plastic being treated as if it were a symbol of environmental destruction. With marine pollution and microplastic issues attracting more attention, many countries and companies have developed ‘plastic-free’ or ‘plastic reduction’ policies. Of course, these efforts are very important from an environmental protection perspective, but does the ‘plastic = bad’ picture really apply to everything?
In this article, we will consider the cases where plastic is actually good for the environment and, conversely, the challenges that de-plasticisation poses.
The raison d'être of plastic
Plastics are used in large quantities because of their lightness, durability, ease of processing and cost-effectiveness. These properties offer tremendous advantages, especially in the fields of transport and packaging, medicine and food preservation.
1. lightness and reduced energy consumption
For example, plastics are often used as an alternative to metal and glass because they are extremely lightweight. The use of plastics in vehicle and aircraft components reduces the overall weight of the vehicle or aircraft and improves fuel efficiency. This results in reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In fact, the use of plastics to increase fuel efficiency is commonplace in the automotive industry.
For example, reducing the weight of a car by 100 kg is said to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 0.3 tonnes per year. Energy consumption can be reduced by replacing lightweight plastic parts with steel and aluminium parts. In many cases, the use of plastics can reduce the overall environmental impact, as more energy is consumed during the production of alternative materials, such as steel and glass.
2. reduction of food losses
The use of plastics also contributes to the reduction of food losses. Vacuum packs and sealed containers prevent oxidation and spoilage of foodstuffs, thereby extending their shelf life. Compared to glass and paper containers, plastic is lighter and has less risk of breakage, thus reducing losses during transport.
To give a concrete example, cucumbers packaged in plastic film are said to retain their freshness almost three times longer than those without any packaging. This contributes significantly to the reduction of waste during transport and at the point of sale, thus increasing the resource efficiency of food production. Food loss is one of the most serious environmental problems and the proper use of plastics contributes to solving this problem.
3. hygiene and safety in the medical sector
Furthermore, plastics are an essential material in the medical sector. Disposable medical products, such as syringes, surgical gloves and infusion bags, are crucial for reducing the risk of infection and maintaining hygiene. These products are disposed of once they have been used, which is both hygienic and serves to prevent the spread of infections.
On the other hand, replacing these products with glass or metal is not feasible in terms of cost and can cause additional energy consumption and waste management problems. Plastics are thus also essential for saving lives.
Challenges posed by de-plastics
At first glance, the ‘de-plasticisation’ movement may seem to be all good for the environment, but it also poses several challenges.
1. the environmental impact of alternative materials
Alternative materials that have attracted attention in the de-plasticisation movement include paper, bioplastics, glass and metals. However, these materials are not necessarily more environmentally friendly than plastics.
For example, paper bags consume more energy during production than plastic bags and use large amounts of water in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, due to their weight, they require more energy during transport, resulting in increased carbon dioxide emissions. Bioplastics, too, although their raw materials are renewable resources, require special conditions for decomposition and, if not properly treated, pose the same environmental pollution risks as conventional plastics.
Glass and metals are also recyclable, but their production requires a great deal of energy. In particular, glass products are heavier than plastic products, which increases the energy required for transport. This can result in higher overall CO2 emissions than plastics.
2. waste management and recycling
Another problem is waste management. The lack of progress in recycling plastics is a major problem today. As part of the de-plasticisation process, many countries and companies are reducing the use of plastics, but the reality is that the fundamental problem is that plastics are not being recycled properly.
If plastics were properly recycled, their environmental impact would be greatly reduced. However, the wide variety of plastic types makes it difficult to sort and process, resulting in a lot of plastic ending up in landfill or being discharged into the ocean.
To solve this problem, more efficient recycling systems and thorough separation are needed. Furthermore, it is important to design with recycling in mind from the design and manufacturing stage in order to promote the recycling of plastics.
For a sustainable future: proper use of plastics
It is important to use plastics appropriately, rather than unconditionally labelling them as ‘bad’. Environmental considerations are of course a must, but so are improved recycling systems and careful selection of alternative materials, while making the most of the benefits that plastics offer.
Several technological innovations are currently underway, including the development of bio-based plastics and new materials that are fully degradable. It is hoped that these technologies will contribute to reducing the environmental impact in the future.
The de-plasticisation movement is a very important part of environmental protection, but its implementation requires balance. Rather than demonising plastics excessively, promoting proper use and improved waste management based on scientific evidence will be key to building a sustainable future.
How each of us considers how we use or don't use plastic in our daily lives is a major step towards protecting the global environment in the future.
In conclusion, plastic is not an ‘evil’, but its value depends on how it is used.
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