Petroleum Based Plastics

These types of plastics are derived from petroleum based crude petrochemical products, extracted at the chemical refineries. These are called precursors for any plastic material. For example, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), nylons (PA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyesters, etc. most of the commercial plastics are petroleum based plastics.

Most of the plastics made of such petroleum precursors are not easily degradable back to nature to monomer units, which harmlessly dissolve without leaving any toxic substances. Petroleum based plastics when subjected to incineration as a way of disposal may produce hazardous gases.The level of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere needs to be maintained, to maintain the temperature.  As the amount of carbon dioxide increases, the heat is trapped more and more into the atmosphere which comes from Sun. So, petroleum based plastics contribute to addition of carbon dioxide, a green house gas, which causes global warming phenomenon. Hence, such petroleum based plastics contribute to green house gas emissions.

Over 200 million tons of plastics are manufactured annually around the world. Of those 200 million tons, 26 million are manufactured in the USA. Only 5.8% of those 26 million tons of plastic waste are recycled, although this is increasing rapidly.