From safety to food conservation and cost-efficiency,
plastics protect consumers in many ways while also providing
them with sustainable solutions. In packaging applications, for
instance, more than 50% of products are packaged with plastics. However,
plastics account for only 17% of total packaging weight and therefore
help reach greater resource
efficiency.
Constantly doing more
with less, plastics also tend to reduce their use of raw
materials. Plastic bags indeed require 70% less material today than they
did in the 80s. Not only does it increase resource efficiency, but it
also provides consumers with increasingly cost-efficient solutions.
Then, thanks to their unique features, plastics also
reduce food waste by extending shelf life, preserve food taste and
protect it from bacteria while also providing unique protection
to non-food products. This all results in additional comfort for
consumers and in a substantial reduction of thier environmental
foodprint.
Packaging is just but an example of
application where plastics combine consumer protection with sustainable
solutions. For instance:
- We use plastic
pipes to carry our drinking water safely and efficiently, and to get rid
of sewerage
- Many of the toys our
children play and of the applications they use daily are made of
plastics. Plastics’ strength, light weight, versatility and
malleability contribute to children
safety.
- Plastics also help in fire safety,
with firemen helmets and suits being the best example
of their
contribution.
- In our
cars, lightweight plastics are used to protect us, enhance our
comfort and increase fuel savings
- In sports, plastics provide
consumers with efficient, light and strong safety
gear.