Plastics 101 | National Geographic

Summary

This video script explores the evolution of plastics, from natural products like Olmec rubber balls to synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels. It explains the production process involving crude oil and natural gas, leading to polymers like polyethylene. Despite plastics' utility, their massive production has resulted in environmental issues, with single-use plastics being a major concern. The script suggests reducing single-use plastics and highlights innovative solutions like biodegradable bioplastics and organisms that can break down plastics, encouraging sustainable practices.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Plastics are made of polymers, which are long flexible chains of chemical compounds that can be easily molded and shaped under heat and pressure.
• 🌿 Early uses of plastic date back 3,500 years to the Olmecs who used natural rubber from sap.
• 🏭 The modern production of plastic begins with the extraction of crude oil and natural gas, which are then refined into ethane and propane.
• ⚙️ Ethane and propane are cracked into ethylene and propylene, respectively, and then polymerized with catalysts to form resins like polyethylene and polypropylene.
• 🧩 Resins are melted, cooled, and chopped into preproduction plastic pellets known as nurdles, which are later molded into various plastic products.
• 🔢 Resin identification codes on plastic products indicate the chemicals used in their manufacturing process.
• 🌐 Global plastic production has doubled approximately every decade since 1950, totaling about 9.2 billion tons.
• 🚮 A significant portion of plastic waste comes from single-use plastics like straws and grocery bags, which often end up as trash and pollute the environment.
• 🐛 Some organisms, such as wax worms, mealworms, and certain microbes, can break down plastic materials.
• 🌱 Scientists are exploring biodegradable bioplastics made from renewable resources like plants, which can degrade more quickly than traditional plastics.
• 🌳 The橡胶树, once used by the Olmecs, is now part of a global initiative for natural and sustainable sourcing of plastic, with its latex used in products like gloves, tires, and mattresses.

Q & A

What is the earliest known use of a material that can be considered a form of plastic?

The earliest known use of a material similar to plastic dates back 3,500 years to the Olmecs of Mexico, who used sap from gum trees to create rubber balls.

What are the two types of plastics that were introduced during the mid-19th and 20th centuries?

Celluloid and Bakelite were the two types of synthetic plastics introduced during the mid-19th and 20th centuries.

What are polymers and how are they related to plastics?

Polymers are long flexible chains of chemical compounds, and they are the building blocks of plastics, allowing them to be easily molded and shaped.

What are the primary sources of materials for making most of today's plastics?

Crude oil and natural gas are the primary sources for making most of today's plastics, as they provide a cheap alternative to plant-based plastics.

What is the first step in the production of plastic?

The first step in the production of plastic is the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from the ground.

What happens to ethane and propane in the process of making plastic?

Ethane is cracked to produce ethylene, and propane is converted into propylene in a cracker plant, which are then used to form polymers.

What role do catalysts play in the formation of plastics?

Catalysts are used to link ethylene and propylene molecules together to form polymers called resins, which are the basis for plastics.

What are nurdles and how are they used in the plastic production process?

Nurdles are preproduction plastic pellets made by melting, cooling, and chopping up the polymers. They are then transported to manufacturers for molding into plastic products.

What do resin identification codes indicate on plastic products?

Resin identification codes indicate which chemicals were used to make the plastic, providing information about the manufacturing process.

How much plastic has been produced since 1950 and what does this amount equate to in terms of weight?

Since 1950, approximately 9.2 billion tons of plastic have been produced, which is roughly the weight of nearly 1,600 Great Pyramids of Giza.

What percentage of plastic waste is attributed to single-use plastics and why are they particularly detrimental?

Single-use plastics constitute about 40% of all plastic waste and are particularly detrimental because they often aren't recycled and end up damaging natural habitats and polluting communities.

What are some solutions being explored to counter plastic pollution?

Some solutions being explored include reducing the use of single-use plastics, using reusable alternatives, and discovering organisms capable of breaking down plastic material.

What is the role of the rubber tree in the current global initiative for sustainable sourcing of plastic?

The rubber tree is being sourced again for natural and sustainable plastic, with its latex being used to create a range of products such as all-natural latex rubber gloves, tires, and mattresses.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 The Evolution and Production of Plastics

The paragraph discusses the history and production process of plastics. Initially derived from natural products like sap from gum trees used by the Olmecs, plastics have evolved into synthetic materials made from fossil fuels like crude oil and natural gas. The paragraph explains how these raw materials are processed in refineries to produce ethane and propane, which are then cracked into ethylene and propylene. These are polymerized with catalysts to form resins like polyethylene and polypropylene. The resins are then turned into preproduction plastic pellets known as 'nurdles'. The paragraph also touches on the environmental impact of plastics, particularly single-use plastics, and suggests reducing their use as a solution. It concludes with a mention of new developments in plastic production, such as organisms that can break down plastics and the return to plant-based plastics like bioplastics and natural latex rubber.

05:02

🌱 The Global Initiative for Sustainable Plastics

This paragraph emphasizes the global efforts to source plastics more naturally and sustainably. It highlights the rubber tree's role in this initiative, suggesting a return to using natural resources for plastic production. The paragraph encourages viewers to pledge to reduce single-use plastics and to understand the material's chemical makeup to use it responsibly. It concludes with a call to action for individuals to make a difference by choosing reusable alternatives and being mindful of the environmental impact of plastics.

Keywords

💡Plastics

Plastics are materials made from polymers, which are long chains of molecules. They are versatile, durable, and can be molded into various shapes. In the video, plastics are discussed as having transformed from a natural product to a synthetically produced material, highlighting their evolution and ubiquity in modern life.

💡Polymers

Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units. They form the basis of plastics, giving them their characteristic properties like flexibility and moldability. The video explains that plastics are made of polymers, which are manipulated through heat and pressure to create various products.

💡Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels, such as crude oil and natural gas, are the primary sources for producing plastics today. They are used because they are cheap and abundant. The script mentions the extraction of crude oil and natural gas as the first step in plastic production, emphasizing the industry's reliance on non-renewable resources.

💡Ethane and Propane

Ethane, derived from crude oil, and propane, from natural gas, are key components in the production of plastics. They are broken down into ethylene and propylene, respectively, which are then used to create polymers. The video uses these terms to illustrate the chemical processes involved in plastic production.

💡Polyethylene and Polypropylene

Polyethylene and polypropylene are types of polymers or resins produced from ethylene and propylene. These are then used to make a wide range of plastic products. The video mentions these polymers to show how different plastics are created from basic chemical compounds.

💡Nurdles

Nurdles are pre-production plastic pellets that are used to manufacture various plastic products. They are formed by melting, cooling, and chopping up the polymers. The script uses nurdles to explain the intermediate stage in the plastic production process before the final products are made.

💡Resin Identification Codes

Resin Identification Codes are numbers found on many plastic products that indicate the type of plastic used in manufacturing. They help in recycling by identifying the material. The video mentions these codes as part of the information provided on plastic products related to their production process.

💡Single-use plastics

Single-use plastics are items made to be used once before they are thrown away, such as straws, grocery bags, and packaging. The video highlights the negative impact of these items, as they often end up as waste and contribute significantly to pollution.

💡Biodegradable bioplastics

Biodegradable bioplastics are a type of plastic derived from renewable resources like plants, which can break down naturally. The video discusses bioplastics as a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, indicating a shift towards eco-friendlier materials.

💡Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic products causing environmental damage. The video addresses this issue, stressing the importance of reducing single-use plastics and exploring alternatives to mitigate the harm plastics cause to ecosystems and communities.

💡Sustainable sourcing

Sustainable sourcing involves obtaining materials in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video connects sustainable sourcing to the use of the rubber tree, emphasizing a return to natural materials for producing plastics.

Highlights

Plastics have become an entrenched part of our lives.

Plastic was originally a natural product, later becoming synthetically produced.

The Olmecs used naturally occurring plastics 3,500 years ago.

Synthetic plastics like celluloid and Bakelite were used from the mid-19th to 20th centuries.

Plastics are made of polymers, which are long flexible chains of chemical compounds.

Most modern plastics are derived from fossil fuels like crude oil and natural gas.

The first step in plastic production is the extraction of crude oil and natural gas.

Ethane and propane are cracked into ethylene and propylene, respectively.

Polymers called resins are formed through polymerization.

Polyethylene and polypropylene are types of resins produced from ethylene and propylene.

Plastic pellets known as nurdles are preproduction forms of plastic.

Manufacturers use heat to mold nurdles into various plastic products.

Resin identification codes indicate the chemicals used to make the plastic.

Global plastic production has doubled about every decade since 1950.

Approximately 9.2 billion tons of plastic have been produced since 1950.

Single-use plastics like straws and grocery bags constitute about 40% of all plastic waste.

Reducing single-use plastics can significantly decrease plastic waste.

Some organisms, like wax worms and mealworms, can break down plastic material.

A microbe has been discovered that can degrade plastic in a few days.

Manufacturers are exploring biodegradable bioplastics made from renewable resources.

The rubber tree is being sourced again for natural and sustainable plastic production.

Understanding plastic's chemical makeup can help us use it responsibly.

Taking a pledge to reduce single-use plastics can benefit the planet.

Transcripts

(bright music)

- [Narrator] Plastics have become

such an entrenched part of our lives

but what exactly is plastic and how was it made?

Before plastic became so ubiquitous, it underwent

a transformation from being a strictly natural product

to being synthetically and widely produced.

Some of the earliest uses of plastic

date as far back as 3,500 years ago

when the Olmecs of Mexico used naturally occurring plastics,

sap from gum trees, to create rubber balls.

During the mid-19th and 20th centuries,

synthetic plastics like celluloid and Bakelite,

made their debut and were used for decades.

On the molecular level, plastics are made of polymers

which are long flexible chains of chemical compounds.

This structure allows plastics to be easily molded

and shaped, especially, under heat and pressure.

Unlike the rubber used by the Olmecs,

most of today's plastics are manmade

and derived from fossil fuels.

Crude oil and natural gas are primary sources

as they provide a cheap alternative

to plastic made from plants.

The first step in the production of plastic

is the extraction of crude oil and natural gas

from the ground.

From there, the fossil fuels are sent to refineries

where they are converted into several products

including the building blocks of plastic,

ethane from crude oil and propane from natural gas.

Ethane and propane are then sent to a cracker plant

to be cracked or broken down into smaller molecules.

Ethane produces ethylene and propane becomes propylene.

Next, a catalyst is mixed in which links

the molecules together and forms polymers called resins.

This structure allows plastics to be easily molded

and shaped, especially, under heat and pressure.

Polymerization converts ethylene

into the resin, polyethylene,

and propylene into polypropylene.

These resins are then melted, cooled down and chopped up

into preproduction plastic pellets known as nurdles.

Nurdles are later transported to manufacturers

who use heat to mold the nurdles into different types

of plastic products.

Many of those products actually feature information

about their manufacturing process.

Numbers called resin identification codes are often featured

indicating which chemicals were used to make the plastic.

Because of plastics utility, it's global production

has doubled about every decade.

The amount of plastics produced since 1950

has measured at about 9.2 billion tons,

the weight of nearly 1,600 Great Pyramids of Giza.

Much of this plastic ends up as trash.

Single-use plastic such as straws, grocery bags

and packaging products are, particularly, detrimental.

They often aren't recycled and constitute about 40%

of all plastic waste.

They end up damaging natural habitats, endangering wildlife

and polluting communities around the world.

Moving forward, a great way we can counter

this plastic pollution is to reduce the amount

of single-use plastics we use.

By opting, instead, for reusable alternatives

in our day-to-day lives, each person can make a huge impact

in helping decrease plastic waste.

For plastics that are already produced,

other solutions are being explored.

Scientists have discovered that a few organisms

are capable of breaking down plastic material.

Wax worms and mealworms, for example, can devour plastics

and turn them into compost.

Another plastic-consuming organism is a microbe

which shrinks the time plastic takes to degrade

from hundreds of years to only a few days.

Change is happening in the production of plastics as well

with some manufacturers turning back

to plants for ingredients.

Called biodegradable bioplastics,

these materials are as durable as synthetic plastics,

come from renewable resources

and can, therefore, biodegrade.

Even the rubber tree, the same plant used by the Olmecs,

is, once again, being sourced for plastic.

Today, the tree's latex is used to create

a range of products such as all natural latex rubber gloves,

tires and mattresses.

The rubber tree itself is now part of a global initiative

for the natural and sustainable sourcing of plastic.

Plastics can be found almost anywhere

but by understanding its chemical makeup

and our uses for it, we can benefit from its versatility

while also being mindful of its impact on our planet.

Take your pledge today to reduce single-use plastics.