Originally developed to do positive things for the world, plastic has achieved great things, and in many different ways. From its versatility during World War II, when it replaced materials in short supply, to its role in medical advances; plastic has more than proved its value in modern life.
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While the irresponsible disposal of waste has led to issues, plastic has proved an invaluable material over many years.
1. Plastic in World War II
The benefits of plastic during World War II were far-reaching, as it replaced scarce materials like rubber and silk, becoming vital for military gear such as parachutes, aircraft windows and radar insulators. Without it, the technological edge that helped secure victory might have been far harder to achieve.
A highly durable material for parachutes, ropes, helmet liners, body armour and more; the scarcity of traditional materials meant a substitute was needed and plastic was an ideal choice.
Plexiglas provided an ideal alternative to glass for aircraft windows; Perspex was used to make airplane cockpits; acrylic sheets were moulded into noses for bombers and canopies for fighter planes. During shipping to war zones, guns were covered in plastic wrap to prevent damage.
During WW2, the production of plastic almost quadrupled worldwide between 1939 and 1945, from less than 100,000 tonnes to 365,000 tonnes, as it was used by many nations involved in the conflict.
It also became an important part of post-war recovery for industry, leading to further growth in production due to the high demand for new plastic consumer goods.
2. Plastics in medical advancements
Saving countless lives, plastic has transformed medical advancements by making disposable syringes, sterile medical packaging, prosthetics and life-saving devices like artificial heart valves and incubators.
Since the 1960s, it has been revolutionising healthcare after the large-scale introduction of new plastic devices to enhance life for patients and staff alike. It’s ideal for items that can’t be reused for hygiene reasons such as catheters, tubes, dressings, lancets, vials and sample bags.
Some 30% of materials used in intensive care and anaesthetic environments are plastics of some kind, according to a research paper, Plastics in Healthcare, published in the National Library of Medicine. The NHS in the UK uses 133,000 tonnes of plastics annually to fulfil all its applications.
3. Plastic in transport
Revolutionising transport, plastics have had a significant impact on the production of motor vehicles, airplanes and ships, making them lighter, more fuel-efficient and safer. Transporting people and goods is a major part of the UK economy, with safety, sustainability and cost-effectiveness being the key.
Modern modes of transport have evolved, with lightweight plastics being crucial to the transport industry. For example, replacing metal components weighing 1,000 kg in a vehicle with 105 kg of plastics can make a fuel saving of up to 7.5%. Plastic is also more durable than metal, as it doesn’t corrode.
The ability to mould plastic enables greater freedom of design and faster, more economical manufacturing processes. Inside vehicles, plastic fittings such as dashboards, seats and flooring are aesthetically pleasing, easy to clean and longer lasting.
4. Plastic in communications technology
Plastic advantages in communications technology include the ability to produce smartphones, laptops and fibre-optic cables to power modern connectivity.
Telecommunications cables, sensors and light transmission guides use plastic optical fibres to carry information from a transmitter to the receiver. The technology uses a beam of modulated light and transparent dielectric waveguides made from plastic and glass.
Plastic optical fibres are flexible, easy to handle and economical, complementing glass fibres in communications links. The preferred choice over electrical cables, they can transmit across longer distances, with higher bandwidths and less signal loss. They are immune to electromagnetic interference.
Plastics such as acrylic and polycarbonate are used for the housing of smartphones, laptops and tablets because of their impact strength. With the evolution of modern 5G technology, the once metal backs of mobile phones are being replaced by plastics or ceramics.
5. Plastic in everyday use
Plastic has improved everyday convenience and reduced waste by enhancing food preservation, as plastic packaging creates a barrier to protect perishable items from external factors such as moisture, oxygen and microbes.
If oxygen reaches the food, it can cause oxidation and make it go off quicker. Wrapping fruits and vegetables in ultra-thin plastic film can extend its shelf life: plastic packaging prevents fresh food from absorbing moisture, which can also cause it to deteriorate.
Wrapping food in plastic can prevent damage during transportation and handling. When you cover food stored in your fridge in plastic, it can prevent odours from one item contaminating another.
In general day-to-day use, plastic household items, rather than other materials such as glass or ceramics, can reduce breakage. For example, polycarbonate is almost indestructible. 250 times stronger than glass, it is a popular choice for engineering uses.
Another popular household plastic, Plexiglass, also known as acrylic, is ten times more impact-resistant than glass and is often used for windows, particularly in areas prone to storms, tornadoes and hurricanes. Safer than glass, as well as stronger, it doesn’t shatter into sharp shards if broken.
Mitigating the downsides
While the positive impact of plastic is significant, on the flip side of the coin, environmental pollution and waste are key challenges, with efforts ongoing to mitigate the downside. The uses of plastic are many and varied, but creating more environmentally friendly solutions such as recycling, bioplastics and reduced consumption is paramount.
Crucially, we should identify the most harmful types, such as single-use plastics known to contaminate marine ecosystems, and reduce their use by finding viable alternatives.