1 Why have plastics become so ubiquitous?
Plastics have become ubiquitous in modern life because of their unique combination of properties that make them indispensable across countless industries. They are lightweight yet incredibly durable, reducing transportation costs and improving product longevity. Their versatility allows them to be molded into virtually any shape, meeting the needs of everything from packaging and construction to medical devices and electronics. Plastics are also cost-effective to produce, often cheaper than natural materials like glass, metal, or wood. This affordability has fueled their mass adoption, enabling innovations in healthcare, aerospace, and consumer goods.
- Lightweight and durable - Ideal for reducing transportation costs.
- Versatile - Can be molded into virtually any shape.
- Cost-effective - Cheaper to produce than many natural materials.
- Innovative Applications: Revolutionized healthcare (e.g., syringes, IV bags), electronics (e.g., wiring, casings), and aerospace.
However, the very qualities that make plastics so useful—durability and resistance to degradation—have also led to one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
This content has been moved into the first section and fits well as a standard-sized session for OpenLearn. The last sentence—"However, the very qualities that make plastics so useful—durability and resistance to degradation—have also led to one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time."—serves as an effective lead-in to the next section, which could explore the environmental impact of plastics and the challenges they pose. This creates a natural transition and maintains the flow of the material.