Plastic is important in daily life because it protects food from contaminants and the elements, reducing food waste by preserving food and increasing shelf life. Plastics are also more durable and flexible than conventional materials like metal, providing advantages for industrial manufacturing through faster production rates and lower costs. Recycling plastic is important because it takes significantly less energy than producing new plastic from raw materials, helping to reduce fossil fuel consumption and prevent plastic waste from ending up in landfills or the natural environment.