Eco, social, ethical issues with polymer processing

Question 1

List Social issues- issues affecting humans

Answer 1

> > Accidents that can be hazardous to workers.
1) Chemical fires, spills and explosions + toxic vapour produced have caused evacuation and deaths.
Health effects due to chemical additives.
1) Phthalate is a plasticiser that can be carcinogens.

Question 2

List ecological issues

Answer 2

1) Toxic vapour produced
2) Dumped in landfill or end up in the ocean
3)Polymer process use fossils fuels to fulfil the energy demand.

Question 3

Why is landfill bad

Answer 3

Rainwater can dissolve toxic chemicals and form LEACHATE. This can move into groundwater, stream and soil; poisoning our ecosystem.
It also scars land and can produce greenhouse gases if burnt.

Question 4

Why is ending up in ocean bad

Answer 4

It can reach GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH or plastic gyre. The animals can ingest the plastics and die. Secondly, they can pass the toxins eaten up the food chain up to humans.
Secondly, animals can get entangled in plastic matter. Or the plastic can transport microbes or animals into to NON NATIVE regions. Negatively, affecting the marine ecosystem.

Question 5

What is recycling and downcycling

Answer 5

Recycling the process of converting waste material into a new material for further usage.
Downcycling the recycling a product for a lower quality product than it originally was.

Question 6

Advantages of recycling

Answer 6

It reduces the energy needed to extract more oil to make plastics. It also decreases the amount of material dumped in landfill.

Question 7

Why is reusing polymer better than recycling.

Answer 7

Recycling still requires energy to sort, clean and then recycling the waste material into useable forms. Reusing doesn’t require as much energy so better

Question 8

Recycling Codes

Answer 8

1: PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate)- bottles
2: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)-bottles for more reactive substance
3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)– trays, food wrap
4: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)–shopping bag
5: PP (Polypropylene)— furniture
6: PS (Polystyrene)–toys
7: OTHER (Miscellaneous types of plastic like acrylic and polyactic etc…)

Question 9

ETI

Answer 9

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a leading alliance
of companies, trade unions and NGOs that promotes
respect for workers’ rights around the globe