Plastic and its two sides

Abstract

Plastic, or celluloid, originated in the United States in 1860. It was considered a great invention that replaced ivory. Over the decades, plastic began to be used worldwide, leading to increased manufacturing by companies and the use of polyethylene (one of the most resistant materials). This material has brought tragic consequences, as plastic, once a help to humanity, has become a problem due to its poor recyclability and highly polluting components. Furthermore, its slow decomposition leads to its accumulation on Earth. According to Quesada (2019), there may be up to 8.3 billion tons of plastic in the world, of which only 9% is recycled for the benefit of humanity. The rest ends up in areas such as rainforests, rivers, and the ocean, the latter being one of the most affected, as the lives of all marine life are impacted, causing them to suffocate or drown from plastic bags that reach the ocean. Today, large plastic industries are forced to seek solutions, whether by changing to materials that are biodegradable and decompose very quickly, in order to try to eradicate the major problem caused by the uncontrolled use of plastic.