Plastic was first invented in 1862 as an alternative to ivory and horn. It is made from polymers of long carbon chains derived from fossil fuels. Plastics are used widely in packaging, construction, textiles, and transportation. However, plastics are a major source of pollution since they do not degrade and can harm wildlife. Plastic production also contributes to climate change. The overuse of single-use plastics and plastic waste are threatening ecosystems and human health if not addressed. Solutions proposed include reducing single-use plastic, recycling, legislation against plastic bags/straws, and increasing awareness.

1. OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES OF PLASTIC
By Somanath Pradhan
Class: IX
School: Raghunath Debata Govt.
High School, Brahmapura
Guided By Priyanka Sahoo
Teacher of Science
School: Raghunath Debata Govt.
High School, Brahmapura

2. Introduction
History:
It was in 1862 that Alexander Parkes
introduced the world’s first-ever man-made
plastic, at the London International
Exhibition. “Parkesine,” as it was called,
was marketed as an alternative to ivory and
horn that Parks discovered while trying to
develop a synthetic substitute for shellac for
waterproofing.

3. What is Plastic
 Plastic is defined as a material that contains an essential ingredient
an organic substance of large molecular weight. It is also defined as
polymers of long carbon chains.
 Plastic was discovered by famous German chemist Christian
Schonbein in 1846. Plastics were actually discovered accidentally.
Christian was experimenting in his kitchen and by accident, he spilt
a mixture of nitric acid and sulphuric acid. To mop that solution (a
mixture of nitric and sulphuric acid) he took a cloth and after moping
he kept it over the stove. After some time, the cloth disappeared an
from their plastic got its name.
 The word, plastic, was derived from the
word ‘Plastikos’ meaning ‘to mould’ in Greek. Fossil fuels have
compounds containing hydrogen and carbon (hydrocarbon) which
act as building blocks for long polymer molecules. These building

5. Uses of Plastics
Plastic is used across almost every sector,
including to:
 produce packaging,
 in building and construction,
 in textiles, consumer products,
 industrial machinery.
 transportation, electrical and electronics
 And others

7. Produce Packaging
In building and
Construction

11. How Plastics create problems?
– Nearly half of all plastic products are discarded
after a single use and take up to 1000 years to
disintegrate. Larger items, such as plastic bags
and straws, can choke and starve marine life,
while smaller fragments (microplastics) can cause
liver, reproductive, and gastrointestinal damage in
animals.
– Plastic pollution is a huge problem—and it’s not
too late to fix it

12. Continue…..
 Plastic sticks around in the environment
for ages, threatening wildlife and
spreading toxins. Plastic also contributes to
global warming. Almost all plastics are made
from chemicals that come from the
production of planet-warming fuels (gas, oil
and even coal).
 Plastic takes more than 400 years to
degrade

13. Plastic Wastes:

14. Affecting aquatic animals:

15. Affecting Birds:

16. Affecting Land Animals:

17. The World will be look like:

18. Solution of Plastic Waste
 Avoid to use plastic once
 Stop buying water packed in plastic
 Cook more.(avoid to buy foods in plastic)
 Recycle
 Support a bag tax or ban
 Spread awareness
 Teach in School
 Put pressure on manufacturers.
 Government Schemes

19. Solutions…….

21. The Green World:

22. Conclusions
 According to recent research 80% of human
beings found micro plastics in their blood
cells. Do you know, what does it mean?
 Plastic was invented to make our life good
and to increase the lifestyle of human beings
but now it is becoming a course to us.
 If we will follow the above discussed
solutions, we may save our life and could
save the Earth as Green Earth.