There are a large number of reasons why recycling plastic is extremely important for humanity. Plastic constitutes a large part of solid waste that clogs landfills and pollutes oceans. Without human intervention, plastic goods can take hundreds of years to decompose. Many companies have recently started recycling plastics to produce new products. Consumers also get more and more attracted to goods made from recycled materials, since the overall awareness of eco-lifestyles is increasing. Therefore, a big range of economic opportunities in this field is undeniable.
For example, an Australian company Team Timbuktu recycles plastic bottles to produce sportswear. Companies like Rothy’s and Allbirds renounce the use of synthetic materials and produce comfortable shoes from recycled plastics, as well as other recycled materials. An independent brand Batoko produces swimwear that is 100% recycled plastic. An Australian plastic recycling company, Replas, produces indoor and outdoor furniture, fencing, and many other types of construction materials from recycled plastic.
Gjenge Makers is another company that uses plastics to make construction materials. This Kenyan enterprise mostly focuses on producing bricks that it claims to be almost five times stronger than concrete. The founder of the company, Nzambi Matee, explains that this is because plastic is polymerase, or thread-like, which makes it less brittle compared to concrete (Agyeman, Obeng-Ahenkora, Assiamah, & Twumasi, 2019). The company produces about 1,500 bricks a day, while Kenya produces 600,000 tons of plastic a year. However, according to Kenya’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, only 9% of that plastic is recycled (Agyeman et al., 2019).
Producing 100% recycled goods may be a difficult goal to achieve. However, such products are definitely in high demand now and are going to be for a long time. With all the useful properties of recycled plastics, it is possible to produce high-quality goods that are sustainable and convenient in use.
Reference
Agyeman, S., Obeng-Ahenkora, N., Assiamah, S., & Twumasi, G. (2019). Exploiting recycled plastic waste as an alternative binder for paving blocks production. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 11, e00246.