Plastics and Sustainability: Towards a Peaceful Coexistence between Bio-based and Fossil Fuel-based Plastics

Clearly lays out the issues related to plastics’ effects on the environment,

while also serving as a practical, non-academic guide for making sustainability

decisions about plastics recycling and the newest bio-based plastics

Company managers, product developers, policy makers, environmental researchers, and plastics industry engineers are under increasing pressure to find ways of minimizing the environmental footprint of plastic products. This accessible book is designed to help readers understand the life-cycle impacts of various plastics, clarifying the technical research and practical arguments to show when bio-based and recycled plastics might be useful options for reducing the overall energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste associated with traditional plastics.

Plastics and Sustainability compares traditional fossil fuel-based plastics with bio-based plastics in terms of properties, environmental impacts, and costs — indicating what the most effective approaches could be for using recycled, biodegradable, or various bio-based materials. The book makes objective comparisons between bioplastics and all commonly used plastics, focusing on how they affect production economics, product requirements, and retailer and consumer needs. It incorporates research concerning life-cycle assessment, production techniques, and commercial applications, and presents “green” guidelines about product design, recycling, processing efficiency, and material selection. The book also reports on recent industry developments and commercial trends in an effort to synthesize conclusions that are necessary for finding the right balance between bio-based and fossil-fuel based plastic products.

“Tolinski does a remarkable job in presenting an objective and comprehensive discussion of different aspects of the sustainable plastics megatrend. Plastics and Sustainability analyzes a number of important issues related to modern plastics use from a global perspective, such as customer behavior, human perception, total environmental impact, legal requirements, cost, and the promise and challenges of plastics recycling. Plastics and Sustainability is an important and well-written resource for a broad audience, for professionals and non-professionals alike.” I. Sedat Gunes PhD, Polymer Engineer

Clearly lays out the issues related to plastics’ effects on the environment,

while also serving as a practical, non-academic guide for making sustainability

decisions about plastics recycling and the newest bio-based plastics

Company managers, product developers, policy makers, environmental researchers, and plastics industry engineers are under increasing pressure to find ways of minimizing the environmental footprint of plastic products. This accessible book is designed to help readers understand the life-cycle impacts of various plastics, clarifying the technical research and practical arguments to show when bio-based and recycled plastics might be useful options for reducing the overall energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste associated with traditional plastics.

Plastics and Sustainability compares traditional fossil fuel-based plastics with bio-based plastics in terms of properties, environmental impacts, and costs — indicating what the most effective approaches could be for using recycled, biodegradable, or various bio-based materials. The book makes objective comparisons between bioplastics and all commonly used plastics, focusing on how they affect production economics, product requirements, and retailer and consumer needs. It incorporates research concerning life-cycle assessment, production techniques, and commercial applications, and presents “green” guidelines about product design, recycling, processing efficiency, and material selection. The book also reports on recent industry developments and commercial trends in an effort to synthesize conclusions that are necessary for finding the right balance between bio-based and fossil-fuel based plastic products.

“Tolinski does a remarkable job in presenting an objective and comprehensive discussion of different aspects of the sustainable plastics megatrend. Plastics and Sustainability analyzes a number of important issues related to modern plastics use from a global perspective, such as customer behavior, human perception, total environmental impact, legal requirements, cost, and the promise and challenges of plastics recycling. Plastics and Sustainability is an important and well-written resource for a broad audience, for professionals and non-professionals alike.” I. Sedat Gunes PhD, Polymer Engineer