Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic: Properties, Uses and Examples Explained

Plastics have become a part of almost every aspect of modern life. From packaging to electronics, furniture to vehicles, plastics are everywhere. But while their convenience and durability have made them a popular material, they also come with a set of drawbacks that cannot be overlooked. 

This article explains advantages and disadvantages of plastics to help you better understand this widely used material.

Table of Contents

• What are Plastics
• Must-Know Facts About Plastics
• Advantages of Plastics
• Disadvantages of Plastics
• Frequently Asked Questions on Advantages and Disadvantages of plastics

What are Plastics

Plastics are synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made from polymers, long chains of molecules primarily derived from petroleum. Polymers can change from their liquid form into solids of many different shapes, which is the reason they are so versatile.

Must-Know Facts About Plastics

Plastic was accidentally invented while trying to make a new type of varnish. A single plastic bottle can take over 450 years to decompose. By 2050, plastics may outweigh fish in our oceans. Microplastics have been found in human blood and organs. Recycling one plastic bottle can light a bulb for three hours.

Advantages of Plastics

Plastics are used in virtually all segments of the economy for many reasons. Some notable advantages include:

• Plastics are strong, yet light, making them easy to transport, store and use. As such, they are well suited for packaging, household goods and consumer goods.
• It is Corrosion Resistant as theplastics do not rust or corrode like metals, making them suitable for many applications in wet environments, like bathrooms and kitchens.
• Economically Convenient Production: Many types of plastics can be produced at lower costs than many alternatives (like glass or metals), having a lowering effect on costs to consumers.
• Plastics are highly versatile and can lead to various shapes, fits, textures and colours for multiple applications such as toys and car parts due to their possibilities for design and manufacture.
•  Materials made of plastics are excellent at insulating heat and electricity, which is why they are found in wiring, electrical equipment, or as thermal packaging.
• Water does not penetrate plastics like other materials and plastics can withstand other environmental aspects such as weather, making them ideal for outside uses and containers.
•  Many types of plastics can be recycled into new products, meaning they are not always detrimental to the environment if they are managed effectively.

Also Read: Uses of Biogas

Disadvantages of Plastics

There are many benefits to using plastics, but they can also create environmental and health risks. 

Here are some of the disadvantages:

• Many plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose. This leads to increasing amounts of plastic waste in landfills and oceans.
  
  
• Plastic waste that is carelessly disposed of can lead to soil and water pollution. Microplastics pose a serious risk as they enter the food chain and harm wildlife.
• Some plastics can release toxic chemicals like BPA or phthalates. These chemicals can create health issues for humans like disrupting hormones and cancer.
• Plastic waste is often eaten by turtles, fish and seabirds. The animals can be injured or killed by consuming the plastic or being entangled in it.
• Most plastics are made from petroleum-based chemicals. Crude oil is one of the three fossil fuels that are being depleted, in addition to also emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
• Some plastics can be extremely flammable and produce toxic fumes when burned. This can be dangerous during a fire.
• Not every plastic type is recyclable and plastic recycling is often expensive and ineffective due to contamination or mixing plastics.

The ways to reduce the use of plastic:

• Use cloth or jute bags instead of plastic ones.
• Buy groceries or any items purchased regularly in bulk to limit packaging.
• When purchasing household items, such as shampoo, containers of detergent, etc., use a refill station rather than getting a new plastic container.
• Purchasing unwrapped fruits and vegetables instead of plastic-wrapped products.

Read More: Thermoplastic Polymers 

We learned that plastics aren’t inherently bad,they’ve helped to enhance innovation and made life easier. The problem is how we use and dispose of plastics. Working to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics and ultimately using biodegradable alternatives, are important steps to help lessen the environmental impact of plastics.