Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Protocol. But the general conclusion of the study still holds at least
qualitatively.
5.6 USING PLASTICS SUSTAINABLY
Consumption invariably results in an environmental footprint. That
resulting from using food, water, and medicine, essential for existence, and
others such as transportation and illumination that allows for higher quality
of life, are accepted because of the high level of benefits these services
provide. Plastics too provide a range of societal benefits that are very much
a part of modern lifestyle. The availability of these is at the cost of
approximately 8% of the annual fossil fuel use along with the associated
GHG and other emissions.
The investment provides a ubiquitous building material, a range of
packagingthatdeliversfoodsafelyfromthefarmtothetable,transportation
that is lighter (conserving non-renewable fuels), medical devices that
protect human health, and a myriad of other conveniences. The nontangible
benefits of these conveniences also contribute to their societal benefits.
There are also applications where plastics either directly or indirectly help
energy production. For instance, development of wind energy relies heavily
on thermoset composites. A blade of a standard 1.5 MW windmill measures
35-40 m and weighs 6-7 tons. These are fabricated from GRP or epoxy
composites. In photovoltaic (PV) modules, plastics protect the active
material within PV modules, replacing glass in the application. Plastic
components are used in nuclear power plants and in some hydroelectric
plants as well.
Can the investment in plastics be justified on the basis of the impressive
societal benefits they deliver? Defining environmental sustainability in
material-specific terms (implied in the above query) is an
oversimplification. No material plastics, glass, or paper can be rejected as
being unsustainable as a class; each may be sustainable or not in some of its
specific applications. Regardless of the class of material, it is ultimately that
which delivers the required functionality and places the minimum burden
on the environment that is sustainable. In most applications, plastics do
qualify in this regard. Nevertheless, within each class of materials, the goal
should be to innovate, improve, and recover for reuse materials and make
them safer to use and increasingly environmentally sustainable.
