Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic
Most of the things that surround us contain plastic – toothbrush bristles, fishing lines, fibers, electronic equipment cases, eyeglasses, plastic bottles, compact disks, microwavable packaging and so on. The list is endless. However, what exactly makes plastic such a common used material. What is the reason at the same time that many people are against using plastic even though it is so majorly distributed? Is it really worth it?
There are few advantages about plastic material that defines it as one of the most used structure materials worldwide. The main benefit is that it is really cheap to make. Since we live in a world that usually people look for cheap stuff to buy of course plastic would be the preferred material.
Another thing is that it is good, light but still strong. Plastic also is not breakable, and it is see-through as well as odorless. That is one of the main advantages. Objects made out of plastic are also water and chemical resistant. Many studies comparing plastic versus paper for shopping bags show that plastic bags have less net environmental effect than paper bags, requiring less energy to produce, transport and recycle.
Of course like every single thing in this world plastic has negative effects as well. One disadvantage is that it is indestructible, even when it is melted the compound gas that it produces is very harmful to our health and environment. It also weakens the Ozone layer. Most of the plastic is made of oil, and as it is well known the world is running out of oil. In fact, plastic lasts forever. There is a flotilla of plastic the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. The bags made of plastic can also kill the marine animals and destroy the soil.
In the end, plastic might be cheap and easy to use but until there is some way to make it harmless to our environment and mother nature using it will mean taking a big risk. Since we are already using it in producing almost everything then is it really possible that we stop taking that risk? All of us who are not the scientists which could actually try making something better than plastic can just participate in different communities who are fighting against it and to push other capable people to do something about it or just to wait and see what happens with plastic and the world around us.
Anna has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years now. You can visit her website PlasticSupply.org to find out more information about different type of plastic products such as plastic adirondack chairs and plastic pallets.
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