1) Plastics production and use has grown exponentially since the 1960s from virtually nothing to over 100 million tonnes annually produced globally in 2019.
2) The ease of processing plastics led to widespread use but also global plastic pollution problems on land, in the sea, and air.
3) While science, innovation, and commercialization led to new plastic technologies and global scale-up of production, unintended environmental consequences were not fully appreciated for decades.
4) Improving plastic recovery and recycling technology alongside reducing plastic incineration will be needed to control global plastic pollution problems.
The beauty and nightmare of plastics, bath university 2019Malcolm Mackley
This presentation was given at Bath University in March 2019 and it describes the beauty of science relating to plastics and the problems associated with certain application areas of the material
This document discusses plastics and polyethylene (PE) specifically. It notes that while plastics are fantastic due to their diverse uses, low production costs, and material properties, they also have environmental downsides when not disposed of properly. PE has a wide range of microstructures that give it varying properties and uses. It is one of the world's largest commodities, with over 80 million tonnes produced annually for a huge diversity of applications. However, plastic waste in the environment is a current issue that requires better recycling and disposal practices.
This document summarizes the history and current issues surrounding plastics from a scientific and global perspective. It describes how the beautiful science and engineering behind plastics like polyethylene has enabled both beneficial applications but also problematic overuse on a global scale. While plastics were initially developed for useful purposes, the ease of processing and low cost has led to massive worldwide production and usage, resulting in environmental issues like plastic waste in oceans that governments are now seeking to address through policies aimed at reducing, recycling, and finding more sustainable uses for plastics.
This power point presentation is about how Plastic is fantastic however as with all technologies there can be good bad and ugly aspect to plastics. Poor disposal, recycling and energy recovery gives plastics a bad name but in general plastics, in particular polyethylene are fantastic.
The document discusses the history and rise of plastic from its invention in the 1860s to modern day uses and environmental concerns. It traces some of the key plastics developed like Bakelite, vinyl, nylon, polyethylene, polyester, and describes how plastics revolutionized industries like packaging, clothing, automobiles. However, it also notes that many plastics are toxic and release dangerous chemicals, contributing to pollution and health issues that environmentalists are now urging regulators to address.
Hundreds of billions of plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, with less than 1% being recycled. Plastic bags end up polluting oceans and landscapes, harming wildlife. Over 200 sea species are known to die from ingesting plastic bags or becoming entangled in them. To reduce plastic bag usage, many countries and cities have implemented bans or taxes on plastic bags, which has led to dramatic usage decreases as high as 90% in some places. Reducing plastic bag consumption would help decrease dependence on foreign oil.
This presentation discusses the plastic ban and plastic pollution. It notes that plastics are polymers made from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and other elements. Rapid population growth and waste generation have led to 65 million tons of waste in India by 2010. Plastics are classified as thermoplastics and thermosetting, with thermoplastics able to be remolded and thermosetting not. Common plastic products are bags, sheets, furniture and more. While plastics are light, strong and cheap, they are also non-renewable and cause pollution when littered or burned. The presentation calls for reducing disposable plastics, recycling, cleaning areas, using reusable bags, and educating about alternatives through taxes.
1) Plastics production and use has grown exponentially since the 1960s from virtually nothing to over 100 million tonnes annually produced globally in 2019.
2) The ease of processing plastics led to widespread use but also global plastic pollution problems on land, in the sea, and air.
3) While science, innovation, and commercialization led to new plastic technologies and global scale-up of production, unintended environmental consequences were not fully appreciated for decades.
4) Improving plastic recovery and recycling technology alongside reducing plastic incineration will be needed to control global plastic pollution problems.
The beauty and nightmare of plastics, bath university 2019Malcolm Mackley
This presentation was given at Bath University in March 2019 and it describes the beauty of science relating to plastics and the problems associated with certain application areas of the material
This document discusses plastics and polyethylene (PE) specifically. It notes that while plastics are fantastic due to their diverse uses, low production costs, and material properties, they also have environmental downsides when not disposed of properly. PE has a wide range of microstructures that give it varying properties and uses. It is one of the world's largest commodities, with over 80 million tonnes produced annually for a huge diversity of applications. However, plastic waste in the environment is a current issue that requires better recycling and disposal practices.
This document summarizes the history and current issues surrounding plastics from a scientific and global perspective. It describes how the beautiful science and engineering behind plastics like polyethylene has enabled both beneficial applications but also problematic overuse on a global scale. While plastics were initially developed for useful purposes, the ease of processing and low cost has led to massive worldwide production and usage, resulting in environmental issues like plastic waste in oceans that governments are now seeking to address through policies aimed at reducing, recycling, and finding more sustainable uses for plastics.
This power point presentation is about how Plastic is fantastic however as with all technologies there can be good bad and ugly aspect to plastics. Poor disposal, recycling and energy recovery gives plastics a bad name but in general plastics, in particular polyethylene are fantastic.
The document discusses the history and rise of plastic from its invention in the 1860s to modern day uses and environmental concerns. It traces some of the key plastics developed like Bakelite, vinyl, nylon, polyethylene, polyester, and describes how plastics revolutionized industries like packaging, clothing, automobiles. However, it also notes that many plastics are toxic and release dangerous chemicals, contributing to pollution and health issues that environmentalists are now urging regulators to address.
Hundreds of billions of plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, with less than 1% being recycled. Plastic bags end up polluting oceans and landscapes, harming wildlife. Over 200 sea species are known to die from ingesting plastic bags or becoming entangled in them. To reduce plastic bag usage, many countries and cities have implemented bans or taxes on plastic bags, which has led to dramatic usage decreases as high as 90% in some places. Reducing plastic bag consumption would help decrease dependence on foreign oil.
This presentation discusses the plastic ban and plastic pollution. It notes that plastics are polymers made from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and other elements. Rapid population growth and waste generation have led to 65 million tons of waste in India by 2010. Plastics are classified as thermoplastics and thermosetting, with thermoplastics able to be remolded and thermosetting not. Common plastic products are bags, sheets, furniture and more. While plastics are light, strong and cheap, they are also non-renewable and cause pollution when littered or burned. The presentation calls for reducing disposable plastics, recycling, cleaning areas, using reusable bags, and educating about alternatives through taxes.
This document discusses various natural and sustainable building materials and techniques, including adobe, cob, strawbale, rammed earth, bamboo, and others. It notes that buildings account for a large portion of resource usage globally. Natural building aims to use materials and methods that work with nature rather than against it. The document also covers innovations in green materials science for building, such as biomimicry and plant-based plastics that require less energy than traditional polymers.
This document discusses plastic pollution and its alternatives. It provides background on the invention and rise of plastics, noting that over 100 million tons are produced annually. Plastic pollution threatens the environment by killing plant and animal life as plastics do not biodegrade. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch demonstrates this issue, covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. Several alternatives to plastic are proposed, including glass, PHB biocomposites, liquid wood, biodegradable plastics, and corn-based plastics. While not perfect solutions, these alternatives aim to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
Plastic is a material made from oil that can be molded into various shapes and sizes by heating or pressing. It is lightweight, strong, and cheap but also non-biodegradable. While plastic has benefits like durability and versatility, it has negative environmental impacts as most plastic ends up in landfills or oceans, where it harms wildlife, and its production and disposal deplete resources and pollute the environment. The first plastics were invented in the 1850s but mass plastic production began in the early 1900s.
The document discusses sustainable materials and design. It provides examples of products made from recycled materials like aluminum, packaging waste, glass, and ceramics. It includes case studies of materials like recycled cardboard, plastic, and scallop shells. Interviews are presented from designers and manufacturers discussing the benefits and challenges of using recycled content in their products.
Nanotechnology involves manipulating materials at the nanoscale of 1-100 nanometers. At this scale, properties of materials can differ significantly from their macroscale counterparts due to greater surface area to volume ratio and quantum mechanical effects. In construction, nanotechnology is being used to improve the strength, durability and self-cleaning properties of materials like concrete, steel, glass and paint. Some nanomaterials showing promise include carbon nanotubes, which are stronger than steel, and titanium dioxide, which can be added to building materials for sterilization, deodorization and self-cleaning effects when exposed to UV light.
Our project on biofuels and bioplasticso6rv76r6uytfitfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Caulk used in buildings before 1980 may contain PCBs, which are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and can affect human health. PCBs from caulk can migrate into the air and dust inside schools and other buildings. To reduce exposure, people should improve ventilation, frequently clean surfaces with damp cloths or HEPA vacuum cleaners, and wash hands and children's toys often until the caulk can be safely removed. Companies should test for PCBs in building materials before renovations to avoid liability for contaminated waste disposal.
Everything around us is made of plastic from toothbrushes to cell phones to automobile parts. Plastic has come to dominate our daily lives but also creates problems as 9 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the oceans each year. Plastic takes a very long time to degrade. We can help address this by reducing single-use plastics and carrying reusable items instead. The history of plastics includes natural polymers that existed for thousands of years followed by developments like vulcanized rubber, Bakelite, and other early synthetic plastics that paved the way for plastics revolutionizing modern life and materials.
Main point of this slide
01. Introduction
02. There are some types of plastic materials such as
03. History
04. Organic Structure of Plastic
05. Mechanism of Organic Structure
06. The molecule Ethene
07. The molecule Polyvinyl chloride
08. Uses
09. Benefits
10. Uses Statistics
11. Pollutants of plastic
12. Disadvantage of plastic
13. Plastic Waste management
14. Alternative of Plastic
15. Conclusion
Thank you
This document discusses the potential of bamboo as a sustainable resource for innovation. It notes that bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants, stronger than wood, and the only plant that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The document also mentions Malaysia's goal of achieving an 8% annual growth rate to reach a high income economy through innovation and creativity, and that bamboo has various applications in science, technology, and other industries.
The role of building materials in architectural designHafedh Yahya
. The argumentation of previous studies demonstrated the historical evolution of the materials in architecture and the position of the materials in the design process. The purpose is to recognize the role of materials in architectural design, and the materials are a core element of the design process. This paper is about the way materials can be used to create personality and character of the designed buildings. The research finds two overlapping roles for materials which are providing technical functionality and building personality. Thus building materials were one of the major factors for new innovation forms through the history of architecture and the key for future re-generations.
The document discusses plastics, their history, types, and environmental impacts. It provides details on common plastic polymers, how plastics are made, and their uses in various industries. The summary discusses the negative effects of plastic pollution, how plastics do not degrade and release toxic chemicals when burned. It also notes that only a small percentage of plastics are recycled due to the labor intensive process.
International Plastic Bag Free Day was created by Bag Free World to promote a worldwide initiative eliminating single-use plastic bags and encouraging more environmentally friendly alternatives. The document provides statistics on plastic bag usage, such as the average European using 500 bags per year, plastic bags taking 100 to 500 years to degrade, and 80% of marine litter being plastic. It highlights the negative environmental impacts of plastic bag production and usage, and calls for a global pledge to ban plastic.
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.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF PLASTIC.pptLIJASAHOO2
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 education programs.
This document discusses plastics pollution and the history, production, and effects of plastic. It notes that plastic is made from polymers derived from petroleum and coal and is very slow to degrade. The document outlines the chemicals involved in different plastic types and products. It describes how plastic pollution harms wildlife and the environment when littered or burned. The document also discusses the health impacts of plastic production, use, and disposal and proposes awareness campaigns and clean-up efforts to help address the issue of plastic pollution.
This document discusses the dangers of plastic to the environment. It defines plastic as a synthetic material made from polymers that can be molded. The main types of plastics are thermosetting and thermoplastics. Plastic packaging poses a major pollution problem as it takes hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. Billions of single-use plastic bags are used worldwide each year, but less than 1% are recycled. Plastic pollution has severely impacted oceans, where debris has been found in large quantities, and plastic bags in particular threaten sea turtles.
The actual title was Solid Waste Management in the 21st Century. The Power Point is available for viewing in my profile as well. The paper details the problems with public recyclable waste, particularly plastic bottles. The full paper will be published in the future in a business or scientific journal.
This document discusses various natural and sustainable building materials and techniques, including adobe, cob, strawbale, rammed earth, bamboo, and others. It notes that buildings account for a large portion of resource usage globally. Natural building aims to use materials and methods that work with nature rather than against it. The document also covers innovations in green materials science for building, such as biomimicry and plant-based plastics that require less energy than traditional polymers.
This document discusses plastic pollution and its alternatives. It provides background on the invention and rise of plastics, noting that over 100 million tons are produced annually. Plastic pollution threatens the environment by killing plant and animal life as plastics do not biodegrade. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch demonstrates this issue, covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. Several alternatives to plastic are proposed, including glass, PHB biocomposites, liquid wood, biodegradable plastics, and corn-based plastics. While not perfect solutions, these alternatives aim to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
Plastic is a material made from oil that can be molded into various shapes and sizes by heating or pressing. It is lightweight, strong, and cheap but also non-biodegradable. While plastic has benefits like durability and versatility, it has negative environmental impacts as most plastic ends up in landfills or oceans, where it harms wildlife, and its production and disposal deplete resources and pollute the environment. The first plastics were invented in the 1850s but mass plastic production began in the early 1900s.
The document discusses sustainable materials and design. It provides examples of products made from recycled materials like aluminum, packaging waste, glass, and ceramics. It includes case studies of materials like recycled cardboard, plastic, and scallop shells. Interviews are presented from designers and manufacturers discussing the benefits and challenges of using recycled content in their products.
Nanotechnology involves manipulating materials at the nanoscale of 1-100 nanometers. At this scale, properties of materials can differ significantly from their macroscale counterparts due to greater surface area to volume ratio and quantum mechanical effects. In construction, nanotechnology is being used to improve the strength, durability and self-cleaning properties of materials like concrete, steel, glass and paint. Some nanomaterials showing promise include carbon nanotubes, which are stronger than steel, and titanium dioxide, which can be added to building materials for sterilization, deodorization and self-cleaning effects when exposed to UV light.
Our project on biofuels and bioplasticso6rv76r6uytfitfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Caulk used in buildings before 1980 may contain PCBs, which are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and can affect human health. PCBs from caulk can migrate into the air and dust inside schools and other buildings. To reduce exposure, people should improve ventilation, frequently clean surfaces with damp cloths or HEPA vacuum cleaners, and wash hands and children's toys often until the caulk can be safely removed. Companies should test for PCBs in building materials before renovations to avoid liability for contaminated waste disposal.
Everything around us is made of plastic from toothbrushes to cell phones to automobile parts. Plastic has come to dominate our daily lives but also creates problems as 9 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the oceans each year. Plastic takes a very long time to degrade. We can help address this by reducing single-use plastics and carrying reusable items instead. The history of plastics includes natural polymers that existed for thousands of years followed by developments like vulcanized rubber, Bakelite, and other early synthetic plastics that paved the way for plastics revolutionizing modern life and materials.
Main point of this slide
01. Introduction
02. There are some types of plastic materials such as
03. History
04. Organic Structure of Plastic
05. Mechanism of Organic Structure
06. The molecule Ethene
07. The molecule Polyvinyl chloride
08. Uses
09. Benefits
10. Uses Statistics
11. Pollutants of plastic
12. Disadvantage of plastic
13. Plastic Waste management
14. Alternative of Plastic
15. Conclusion
Thank you
This document discusses the potential of bamboo as a sustainable resource for innovation. It notes that bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants, stronger than wood, and the only plant that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The document also mentions Malaysia's goal of achieving an 8% annual growth rate to reach a high income economy through innovation and creativity, and that bamboo has various applications in science, technology, and other industries.
The role of building materials in architectural designHafedh Yahya
. The argumentation of previous studies demonstrated the historical evolution of the materials in architecture and the position of the materials in the design process. The purpose is to recognize the role of materials in architectural design, and the materials are a core element of the design process. This paper is about the way materials can be used to create personality and character of the designed buildings. The research finds two overlapping roles for materials which are providing technical functionality and building personality. Thus building materials were one of the major factors for new innovation forms through the history of architecture and the key for future re-generations.
The document discusses plastics, their history, types, and environmental impacts. It provides details on common plastic polymers, how plastics are made, and their uses in various industries. The summary discusses the negative effects of plastic pollution, how plastics do not degrade and release toxic chemicals when burned. It also notes that only a small percentage of plastics are recycled due to the labor intensive process.
International Plastic Bag Free Day was created by Bag Free World to promote a worldwide initiative eliminating single-use plastic bags and encouraging more environmentally friendly alternatives. The document provides statistics on plastic bag usage, such as the average European using 500 bags per year, plastic bags taking 100 to 500 years to degrade, and 80% of marine litter being plastic. It highlights the negative environmental impacts of plastic bag production and usage, and calls for a global pledge to ban plastic.
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.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF PLASTIC.pptLIJASAHOO2
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 education programs.
This document discusses plastics pollution and the history, production, and effects of plastic. It notes that plastic is made from polymers derived from petroleum and coal and is very slow to degrade. The document outlines the chemicals involved in different plastic types and products. It describes how plastic pollution harms wildlife and the environment when littered or burned. The document also discusses the health impacts of plastic production, use, and disposal and proposes awareness campaigns and clean-up efforts to help address the issue of plastic pollution.
This document discusses the dangers of plastic to the environment. It defines plastic as a synthetic material made from polymers that can be molded. The main types of plastics are thermosetting and thermoplastics. Plastic packaging poses a major pollution problem as it takes hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. Billions of single-use plastic bags are used worldwide each year, but less than 1% are recycled. Plastic pollution has severely impacted oceans, where debris has been found in large quantities, and plastic bags in particular threaten sea turtles.
The actual title was Solid Waste Management in the 21st Century. The Power Point is available for viewing in my profile as well. The paper details the problems with public recyclable waste, particularly plastic bottles. The full paper will be published in the future in a business or scientific journal.
TRVST the last plastic straw. Chose eco-friendly straws or just say no to sin...TRVST
We create a huge amount of plastic each and every day a great deal of which is discarded. According to UK waste management body, WRAP, we get through 100 million tonnes of the stuff every year. That’s a 50% increase since the 1950s.
Certainly, straws are only a small part of the problem. Not least they are lightweight and small. However, they’ve also come to signify quite how wasteful we can be. Most of the time we don’t really need straws. The convenience of not having to bring a cup to our lips is certainly something that we could do without. There are of course exceptions, especially in certain physical and medical circumstances.
The thing with plastic straws is that they are not easily recycled. Their lightweight means that the big processing machines often don’t actually end up processing them even if they have made it into the recycling bin. They also often end up blowing out of bins or landfill into the surrounding nature or our oceans.
It’s said that we get through a staggering 500 million plastic straws in a day in the US. All those takeaway meals and cocktail served complete with plastic straws all add up.
Marine life is also negatively affected by our plastic straws use and disposal. The UN reports that more than 800 animal species are affected by marine debris.
Things are changing, however. The EU is banning single-use plastics by 2021. Even McDonalds are rolling our paper straws. So it’s time to finally bid the plastic straw farewell. There are now viable alternatives and choosing eco-friendly straws just makes sense. We have a lot more to do than simply worry about straws. All the same these highly visible single-use plastic suckers help raise awareness of plastic waste. And of course, each less straw washed up on our beaches or harming marine life is a good thing!
The history of plastics dates back over 100 years. Early plastics such as celluloid and Bakelite were invented in the late 19th century but plastics production expanded greatly during World War 2. In the postwar decades, plastics became widely used in applications such as car bodies, clothing, bottles, and household items due to their low cost and desirable properties. Modern communication technologies rely heavily on plastics for components.
The history of plastics dates back over 100 years. Early plastics such as celluloid and Bakelite were invented in the late 19th century but plastics production expanded greatly during World War II. In the postwar decades, plastics became widely used in applications such as car bodies, clothing, bottles, and household items due to their low cost and desirable properties. Modern communication technologies rely heavily on plastics for components.
This document discusses plastic pollution, including what plastic is, its history, types of plastic, plastic pollution sources and effects, and potential solutions. It notes that plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects in the environment that harms wildlife, habitats, and humans. Plastic does not degrade naturally and has led to high levels of plastic waste. The document outlines various case studies on plastic pollution in oceans, its financial damage to marine ecosystems, and increasing amounts of plastic litter in the Arctic deep sea. It also discusses examples of countries that have implemented policies to reduce plastic pollution.
Plastic is a synthetic material that can be molded into various shapes while soft and then set into rigid or flexible forms. It is typically made from organic polymers derived from petrochemicals. Plastic has many uses but also several disadvantages, including that most plastic is non-biodegradable and ends up polluting the environment, especially oceans. An enormous quantity of plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year but less than 1% are recycled, meaning most end up as litter and pollution.
Plastic bottles have several disadvantages, including that they take 500 years to decompose in landfills, most plastic is not recycled, and plastic bottles are meant for single-use rather than reuse. Additionally, plastic production relies on non-renewable resources like oil and natural gas. Discarded plastic often ends up in oceans and waterways, where it can be ingested by marine life and cause health issues. While a complete ban on plastics may not be feasible, reducing plastic usage and properly disposing of and recycling plastics can help address these issues.
Plastic bottles have several disadvantages, including that they take an extremely long time (500 years) to decompose in landfills. Additionally, plastic is difficult to recycle effectively as most plastic cannot be recycled and recycled plastic is often downcycled into lower quality products. A further disadvantage is that plastic production relies on non-renewable resources like oil and natural gas. Large quantities of discarded plastic end up polluting the environment and harming wildlife through ingestion and entanglement.
Plastic pollution is a major global problem. Hundreds of billions of plastic bags are consumed yearly but less than 1% are recycled, and they persist in the environment for centuries. Plastic kills and harms wildlife, pollutes oceans and waterways, and poses health risks. Many countries and cities have implemented bans and taxes on disposable plastics to encourage alternatives and clean up efforts.
Plastic pollution is a major problem affecting the environment globally. Plastic is a synthetic material made from petroleum that does not degrade naturally over time. The overuse of plastics like plastic bags and bottles, as well as improper disposal methods, have led to large amounts of plastic accumulating in landfills and the environment. This plastic pollution harms wildlife and habitats by entanglement and ingestion, and pollutes water sources and air. Long term, plastic pollution disrupts food chains and ecosystems and poses health risks to both animals and humans.
Plastic pollution is a major problem affecting the environment globally. Plastic does not degrade naturally and instead accumulates as waste, polluting land, waterways, and oceans. The overuse of plastics like bags and bottles that are used only once combined with improper disposal methods are leading causes of plastic pollution. The buildup of plastics in the environment has severe negative impacts including harming wildlife and entering the food chain, polluting water supplies, and releasing toxic chemicals into the air and groundwater. Urgent action is needed to reduce plastic use and improve waste management in order to mitigate the dangerous effects of plastic pollution on ecosystems and human health.
A Comprehensive Guide on Cable Location Services Detections Method, Tools, an...Aussie Hydro-Vac Services
Explore Aussie Hydrovac's comprehensive cable location services, employing advanced tools like ground-penetrating radar and robotic CCTV crawlers for precise detection. Also offering aerial surveying solutions. Contact for reliable service in Australia.
Monitor indicators of genetic diversity from space using Earth Observation dataSpatial Genetics
Genetic diversity within and among populations is essential for species persistence. While targets and indicators for genetic diversity are captured in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, assessing genetic diversity across many species at national and regional scales remains challenging. Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) need accessible tools for reliable and efficient monitoring at relevant scales. Here, we describe how Earth Observation satellites (EO) make essential contributions to enable, accelerate, and improve genetic diversity monitoring and preservation. Specifically, we introduce a workflow integrating EO into existing genetic diversity monitoring strategies and present a set of examples where EO data is or can be integrated to improve assessment, monitoring, and conservation. We describe how available EO data can be integrated in innovative ways to support calculation of the genetic diversity indicators of the GBF monitoring framework and to inform management and monitoring decisions, especially in areas with limited research infrastructure or access. We also describe novel, integrative approaches to improve the indicators that can be implemented with the coming generation of EO data, and new capabilities that will provide unprecedented detail to characterize the changes to Earth’s surface and their implications for biodiversity, on a global scale.
(Q)SAR Assessment Framework: Guidance for Assessing (Q)SAR Models and Predict...hannahthabet
The webinar provided an overview of the new OECD (Q)SAR Assessment Framework for evaluating the scientific validity of (Q)SAR models, predictions, and results from multiple predictions. The QAF provides assessment elements for existing principles for evaluating models, as well as new principles for evaluating predictions and results. In addition to the principles, assessment elements, and guidance for evaluating each element, the QAF includes a checklist for reporting assessments.
This new Framework provides regulators with a consistent and transparent approach for reviewing the use of (Q)SAR predictions in a regulatory context and increases the confidence to accept alternative methods for evaluating chemical hazards. The OECD worked closely together with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italy) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), supported by a variety of international experts to develop a checklist of criteria and guidance for evaluating each criterion. The aim of the QAF is to help establish confidence in the use of (Q)SARs in evaluating chemical safety, and was designed to be applicable irrespective of the modelling technique used to build the model, the predicted endpoint, and the intended regulatory purpose.
The webinar provided an overview of the project and presented the main aspects of the framework for assessing models and results based on individual or multiple predictions.
There is a tremendous amount of news being disseminated every day online about dangerous forever chemicals called PFAS. In this interview with a global PFAS testing expert, Geraint Williams of ALS, he and York Analytical President Michael Beckerich discuss the hot-button issues for the environmental engineering and consulting industry -- the wider range of PFAS contamination sites, new PFAS that are unregulated, and the compliance challenges ahead.
Widespread PFAS contamination requires stringent sampling and laboratory analyses by certified laboratories only -- whether it is for PFAS in soil, groundwater, wastewater or drinking water.
Contact us at York Analytical Laboratories for expert environmental testing with fast turnaround times and client service. We have 4 state-certified laboratories in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and 4 client service centers.
P: 800-306-YORK
E: clientservices@YorkLab.com
W: YorkLab.com
1. The Beauty and Nightmare of Plastics.
By
Malcolm Mackley.
Emeritus Professor,
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge.
Resident
Salcombe.
1
Polyethylene “single crystals”
1970
Plastics Free Kingsbridge
2016
U3A. Ivybridge. December 2019
2. 2https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution
Plastics and Coal (pollution)
Global
Plastics
Production
UK
Coal
Production
Born in 1947
Polymer Physics
PhD 1970
Realised extent of
plastics global problemPolymers, Plastics
and Innovation
My father.
Manager of a
cement works
3. “Go into plastics” clip
The Graduate 1967
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaCHH5D74Fs
4. Plastics are part of the Polymer Family
DNA. “the stuff of life”
Polyethylene. a “man made” 1934 discovery.
4
Cellulose.
“one of natures building blocks”
5. 5
1970s The Beauty of Polymers
(My Bristol Physics PhD Supervisors 1970s)
Sir Charles Frank (1911-1998)Andrew Keller (1925 –1999)
World leading
Polymer Scientist
World leading
Physicist
At this point of time, Plastic and CO2 pollution not appreciated
7. 7
Polyethylene (PE) can be ……
Macro.
mm-m
Micro.
mm
Nano.
nm
Molecular.
Angstrom
Semi crystalline solid
RubberyDiamond like
Perfect order Total chaos
Tough and Strong
8. “I worked with Bp to help improve their polymer processing!”
250,000 Tonnes/annum
25 kg bag of PE every 3 seconds.
1990s. Ineos (ex Bp). Grangemouth Scotland
Sir Jim Ratcliffe 60% Owner of Ineos
At this point in time Plastic and CO2 pollution still not appreciated
8
9. Temperature
50 100 150 200
C0
DH
Melt
Processing
The “good” and “bad” properties of PE
• Low melting point.
• Low density.
• High strength and toughness.
• “Low cost?”.
• Ease of processing.
Polyethylene £ 1000/tonne
Plastic floats!
9
10. Ease of melt Processing ;
A significant reason why plastic is used so much.
Simulation. Experiment.Stress field birefringence
Cambridge Multipass Rheometer (MPR)
(David Hassell)
10
www.malcolmmackley.com/discovery-and-innovation/movies/
11. 11
Thirty years of research
results for example in the ability
to mathematically model plastic
bottle blow moulding.
Whilst at the same time…
Thirty years is enough time to
create a global plastic bottle
nightmare!
Plastic Bottles !
UK; 35 million plastic bottles /day
12. Polyethylene (PE) Global manufacture.
1934-2019
Globally, 2019
> 100 million tonnes/annum
= Fill Salcombe Estuary / annum
with PE
12
13. 13
Westbury Wilts Cement Works 1960- 2010
(Where my father was Production Manager 1962- 1980)
700,000 tonnes cement/annum.
Global PE 100 million tonnes/annum;
enough to fill the chalk quarry
at least 4 times over/annum.
(Wiltshire Times)
Drone Photo. Simon Wright ‘Skynamite’
16. 16
Recovery and Reuse
of used plastics (and other materials)
is an interlinked problem and is at
the heart of acceptable use.
2019. “A conclusion”
17. Coloured plastic bags to save the world from plastic pollution!
Collect in coloured plastic bags
2016. A multi material recovery solution.
Eskilstuna – Sweden
A clean and colourful solution to domestic waste collection
Optical separation of bags to
different reuse streams
17
18. 18
Coming soon! SHDC Bin Lorries
Pots, Tubs and Trays (PTT) and more!
(South West Devon Waste Partnership)
20. 20
Westbury Wilts Cement Works 1960- 2000
700,000 tonnes cement/annum.
Used car tyres
and
Household waste
CO2
21. 21
MVV Waste Energy Recovery Plant
Devonport Plymouth
(South West Devon Waste Partnership)
245,000 tonnes/annum
An impressive solution
to waste energy recovery
23. 23
A developing technology, Chemical Recycling; The pyrolysis option.
Recycling of “clean PE and PP waste”
Recycling Technologies (Reading).
Plastic Energy.
“Clean” plastic
Waste in
Monomer
for fresh
polymerisation
plastic out
24. 24
2019
Plastic Pollution can be controlled.
However globally;
Plastic Use, Recovery and Recycle Technology
needs to be significantly improved
and Incineration of plastics reduced.