Plastic in the environment: properties, types, and applications

Khem Raj Shah; Garima Maharjan; Sachita Baniya; Bandita Mainali; Helen Treichel; Shukra Raj Paudel

doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-23599-3.00017-4

Plastic in the environment: properties, types, and applications

Khem Raj Shah, Garima Maharjan, Sachita Baniya, Bandita Mainali, Helen Treichel, Shukra Raj Paudel

School of Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

Plastics have transformed industries, shaped our daily lives, and become an indispensable element of modern living. Plastics can be tailored physically and chemically to provide a wide range of favorable characteristics, such as being lightweight, having high durability and flexibility, and usually having low-cost and energy-efficient manufacturing methods. Currently, three commercially produced plastics exist: petroleum-based, biobased, and captured CO2-based. However, despite plastics' widespread use and advantages, their production, consumption, and disposal have given rise to significant environmental concerns. These include accumulating marine debris, potential threats to human health, greenhouse gas emissions, and long-lasting ecological persistence. This chapter delves into a comprehensive exploration of the use of plastics, examining their characteristics, the benefits they offer, and the associated concerns. It also addresses the future priorities, challenges, and opportunities related to the use of plastics.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Environmental hazards of plastic wastes
Subtitle of host publication	bioremediation approaches for environmental clean-up
Editors	Riti Thapar Kapoor, Helen Treichel, Jakub Zdarta
Place of Publication	Amsterdam
Publisher	Elsevier
Chapter	12
Pages	181-206
Number of pages	26
ISBN (Electronic)	9780443235993
ISBN (Print)	9780443236006
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-23599-3.00017-4
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2025

Keywords

application of plastics
biodegradability
bioplastics
CO2-based plastics
environment
history of plastics
petroleum-based plastic
Plastic
plastics
polycarbonate
polyethylene
polymers
properties of plastic

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10.1016/B978-0-443-23599-3.00017-4

Cite this

Shah, K. R., Maharjan, G., Baniya, S., Mainali, B., Treichel, H., & Paudel, S. R. (2025). Plastic in the environment: properties, types, and applications. In R. T. Kapoor, H. Treichel, & J. Zdarta (Eds.), Environmental hazards of plastic wastes: bioremediation approaches for environmental clean-up (pp. 181-206). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-23599-3.00017-4

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Plastic in the environment: properties, types, and applications. / Shah, Khem Raj; Maharjan, Garima; Baniya, Sachita et al.
Environmental hazards of plastic wastes: bioremediation approaches for environmental clean-up. ed. / Riti Thapar Kapoor; Helen Treichel; Jakub Zdarta. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2025. p. 181-206.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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PB - Elsevier

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Plastic in the environment: properties, types, and applications

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Keywords

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