How is Plastic Made? We will discuss the various chemicals in plastic as well as answer questions like “how is plastic made” and “what is plastic.” Most of us use plastic every day, so it’s important we understand the risks associated with it.
There are two different types of plastic: synthetic and bio-based. Bio-based plastics are made from renewable materials like vegetable fats, vegetable oils, carbohydrates, starch, bacteria, and other biological substances. Let's focus on the production and creation of synthetic plastics.
Synthetic plastics are made from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil were formed from old dead things. Once these fossil fuels have been extracted from the earth, they need to be transported to a petroleum refinery.
Here is a super simplified explanation. The oil or gas is then separated, separated again, and then separated again, and then has a bunch of stuff added to it, chopped into teeny-tiny pieces, and then shipped to factories for molding and shaping.
This is just another way for big oil to keep fossil fuels freely flowing through our economy. The global plastic packaging market is expected to be worth $269.6 billion by 2025. Plastic production is predicted to double in the next 20 years.
One of the largest concentrations of petrochemical plants is nicknamed ‘Cancer Alley’ which spans an 85 mile-long stretch along the Mississippi River. People living near Cancer Alley are 50 times more likely to get cancer than the average American.
Just a few of the toxic chemicals released from extraction are Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Hydrogen Sulfide. These can cause a range of health problems like kidney and liver damage, anemia, headaches, respiratory problems, and seizures.