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The Effects of the Invention of Plastic

Manmade plastics, invented in the 1860s by Alexander Parkes, are everywhere in today's world, from the keyboard used to write these words to the containers food is packaged in, and every conceivable place in between. While manufacturing plastics is the third largest industry in the U.S., who produces more than $375 billion worth of goods yearly, there is much debate as to plastic's impact on the health of the planet and the plants and animals that live on the planet.

  1. Cost Efficient

    • Because plastic is cheaper to produce than glass or metal. Items manufacturer from plastic, or packaged in plastic, cost less to produce and can, therefore, be sold at lower prices. Items that were too expensive for the general population to own due to the cost of manufacturing before plastic are now widely available at a reasonable price thanks to the use of plastic.

    Convenience

    • Convenience is one of the biggest benefits of the use of plastic. People are able to bring drinks in closed, unbreakable containers that can be thrown away or recycled after use. The use of plastic utensils, cups and plates in the restaurant industry eliminates the need to wash and sanitize these items for reuse.

    Portable

    • Glass, metal and other materials are heavier than plastic. Transporting these items from one place to another is cumbersome and, often times, not feasible. Manufacturing these same items out of plastic has created a plethora of new items designed with portability in mind. An example of how plastic has increased the portability of an item is a portable child's crib. A typical crib is usually made from wood and is too cumbersome to transport. Fold-up cribs manufactured from plastic are lightweight and compact, making for easy portability.

    Sanitary

    • One of the industries that has been changed the most thanks to the invention of plastic is the medical industry. Before plastic, instruments, equipment and materials used on a patient needed to be sterilized before it could be used on another patient. Now that the majority of these items are now constructed from plastic, including breathing tubes, urinary catheters and IV tubes and bags, sterile equipment is always readily available and eliminates the risk of spreading infection due to improperly sterilized materials.

    Durability

    • Items made from plastic are often more durable than non-plastic counterparts. Glass containers, for example, shatter on impact whereas most plastic containers remain intact. Increasing the durability of a product increases its desirability and has been a major contributor to the success of plastic.

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