Sustainability

Plastics make a significant contribution to environmental sustainability because of their energy saving potential and their intrinsic recyclability and stored energy. Economically, the plastics industry is contributor to corporate tax revenue, economic activity and a major export product, contributing to the balance of trade. Socially, the plastics industry is a major and inclusive employer which offers education and training.

Environmental sustainability

Only four per cent of the world’s oil production is used for plastics and much less energy is used to produce it compared to other materials. Plastics are durable yet lightweight and thus save weight in cars, aircraft, packaging and pipework.

When plastics have completed their use phase, whether as a car bumper or a bottle, they can either be recycled or if this is not economic or environmentally beneficial the calorific value of the plastic can be recovered through energy from waste incineration to provide a much source of home-grown power. As a consequence plastics can be viewed as ‘borrowing’ the oil.

Economic sustainability

Plastics make a major contribution to the UK economy and a healthy manufacturing sector is vital to a sustainable economy, with around 7, 400 plastics companies in UK, an industry turnover of approximately £17 billion, around £4.5 billion in exports. Plastics also have a role to play at a micro-economic level; they are very cost effective to produce and provide the ability to make single moulded components in complex shapes. This significantly reduces costs associated with assembly and the use of fixtures. Plastics products are continually being improved thanks to significant industrial research and also provide whole life cost savings.

This encompasses benefits such as reduced fuel use in transit, reduced maintained requirements, reduced energy required for heating when plastics insulation is used, reduced food and consumer goods wastage due to the unparalleled protective properties of plastics packaging.

Social sustainability

The UK plastics industry is socially inclusive and offers a wide range of worthwhile careers with considerable scope for career development, progression and training. The plastics industry has a strong health and safety record.

Plastics make a major contribution to safety. The plastics used in cars, for example, reduce weight and allows for the addition of safety features such as airbags. Furthermore, plastic foams such as EPS and EPP provide the necessary shock absorbency to be used in life saving devices such a bicycle helmets.

Plastics are essential in healthcare. Plastics products are used in surgery, healthcare products, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems and medical packaging.

Todays Plastics

The use of plastic has increased dramatically over the last 20 years. Plastic is now a vitally important component in many different industries and business sectors.

  • Health

    PVC blood bags, surgical appliances, even plastic blood, our health has improved with the help of plastic.

  • Travel

    Plastic helps us travel more efficiently in lighter and more durable, planes, trains and automobiles.

  • Environment

    Reducing waste, saving energy and recycling, just some of the ways plastic is helping us improve the environment.

  • Home

    Efficient PVC windows, plastic foam insulation and water pipes, plastic helps us build better homes.

  • Sport & leisure

    Lighter footballs, waterproofing, moulded shoes, plastic makes it comfortable and fun.

  • Food & drink

    Preserving food, preventing waste, plastic makes the earth’s natural resources go further and last longer.

  • Communications

    PC’s, laptops, mobile devices, plastic protects technology and allows us to communicate wherever we happen to be.