Polymers are composed of many repeated subunits called monomers and are found in both natural and synthetic forms. They are widely used in daily life from clothing to packaging due to their versatility and low cost. However, plastic waste is a major problem as over 300 million tons are produced annually and most is mismanaged, polluting the environment for hundreds of years. Solutions proposed include reducing single-use plastics, reusing products more, recycling plastic more efficiently, developing bioplastics that degrade more easily, and innovative projects like roads made entirely from recycled plastic.

1. Polymers in Our Daily Life
Dimas Prasetyo Ajie – M. Azkia Rifqi A. – Talitha Zada Gofara – Yohanes Pandu
Chemical Engineering Department Universitas Indonesia

2. Polymer?
poly⸱mer
: (a) many part
(b) composed of many
monomers/repeated subunits
2
Natural Semi-synthetic Synthetic

3. How do we make polymers?
3

4. Application
4
Source: plasticsinsight.com, 2019

5. 5
We produce 300 million tonnes
of plastic waste every year!

6. 6 Source: UN Environment, 2019
Indonesia wastes
10,660,505 kg per day &
81% is mismanaged!

7. plastic in the ocean
>450 years
for how long plastic is degraded
>700 species
threatened by plastic
7
150 million MT

8. 8
cancer, nervous
disorder, pneumonia,
etc
air pollution
damage soil
flood

9. What are the solutions?
9
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Aspergillus tubingiensis
can break down plastic!
Bioplastic that is more
biodegradable!

10. 10
A project in Netherland
called PlasticRoad
constructs road from
100% recycled plastic
Do you know?