SEPTEMBER 20238MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSIN MY OPINIONBy Inari Seppä, Circular Economy Advocacy Director, Eastman REINVENTING PLASTICS MANUFACTURING Plastic, the "wonder material" of the modern industrial era. It was made to be light, safe, and designed to last with properties so versatile that it is impossible to find another material as adaptable as plastic. The possibility to shape it under heat to almost any form or shape imaginable has made it an invaluable resource, particularly during the recent pandemic when protective equipment was needed at short notice. Plastic is not just one material. It is a material family consisting of several different types which all have their special characteristics tailored to meet the needs of various applications for toughness, heat resistance, chemical resistance, clarity or colour, or whatever the requirements might be. Plastics have enabled many modern-day conveniences such as food packaging for microwaving, shopping bags, unbreakable soft drink bottles, fast fashion, and mobile phones. It has also provided life-saving medical equipment and devices. And most of these at a very reasonable cost. Plastic production has grown enormously since the 1950s, with a global production estimated to be around 400 million metric tons nowadays. It is expected to continue increasing by four percent annually. As the use of plastics continues to grow, so does the amount of waste generated, leading to environmental concerns. Rather than making even more plastics from fossil-derived resources, it is crucial to consider alternative feedstocks including non-food biomass crops, agricultural by-products and different waste streams as well as using the latest technologies capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) to make intermediates for plastics or chemicals. The chemical industry is one of the largest and most diversified manufacturing industries. This industry has the potential to lead innovation of sustainable processes and products. The need to make the most out of the existing assets is driving the search for non-fossil-derived alternatives both for energy sources and raw materials (feedstock). Nature's fossil
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