Plastics and their impact on the environment

Question 1

What does synthetic mean?

Answer 1

Made unnaturally by chemicals usually to emulate natural processes.

Question 2

What is the difference between synthetic and natural plastic?

Answer 2

Synthetic plastic is man made with crude oil and makes up most plastic we buy
Natural plastics come from some trees in the form or rubber and latex

Question 3

Why are plastics so impactful to the environment?

Answer 3

• The process of making plastic releases a lot of greenhouse gasses as it uses crude oil (fossil fuel)
• It can’t be truly broken down easily as they take thousands of years to decompose.
• Toxic to wildlife = damage ecosystems
• They can break down into microscopic plastics that can bioaccumulate in the wild.
• They are used everywhere which results in plastic being thrown away into ecosystems.