Plastic is durable. Unlike metal it will never rust, be heavily affected by the elements or degrade quickly (In certain conditions a poor quality metal container will last half as long as a plastic one). Plastic boxes used for storage purposes have been used to safely dispose of toxic materials and the threats they impose on out ecosystem. The flip side of this is that burning plastic results in some toxic fumes. Plastic storage is a duel side coin, both safe and environmentally friendly and at the same time it has issues which are hard to overlook. As we delve deeper into the heart of plastic and its environmental footprint, the answers suddenly become clearer and easier to understand.

Plastic is adaptable. It can be used in a variety of storage methods [such as plastic storage boxes] and accommodates itself to any material type. If the product needs to be protected, the plastic can be tough. If it needs to be transported, the plastic can mould itself to any required shape. Plastic is resistant to corrosion. Not only do we find plastic in bins and storage containers but also in virtually every item in production today. Since the early 19th Century, pioneers of plastic have continually evolved the basic chemical structure, yet at a significant cost to the environment. The stronger plastic is, the longer it will take to bio-degrade. This is not a major concern with massive plastic bins and containers but with smaller items such as grocery bags, the waste build-up is enough of an issue to warrant a required solution.

Petroleum is a product which, once chemically altered, forms many types of commercial plastics. The worldwide shortage in oil weighs negatively against this production and alternatives are being developed. Some observers, like many us, of predict that future oil supplies are unsure. Oil-shale (finely ground rock) and Oil sands (naturally occurring tar and sand) have been used successfully to reproduce plastics, yet they process remains too expensive to mass produce. Greenhouse gasses, massive plastic landfills and toxic pollutants round off a list of insanely scary global issues plastic has been causing and will continue to cause unless real solutions are found. Yet how can we live without it? As I stated earlier plastic is prevalent in everything, in all forms goods we use. From the computers we use, to the cars we drive and the food we eat, plastic is a miracle product coming second only to fire and the wheel.

There is however good news. Bio-degradable plastics that are broken down by the elements such as exposure to sunlight and naturally occurring enzymes are being developed at a tremendously fast rate. Items such as starch have been mixed with plastic to allow it to degrade at faster rate, yet there is still no desired breakdown which can be deemed a complete victory. Another massive breakthrough comes with the development of Tencel, a revised version of rayon (the oldest manufactured fibre still used today). Tencel has advanced properties over rayon, can be easily mass-produced and is extremely clean by plastic production standards. Further studies and improvements are still needed until Tencel becomes an industry norm though.

What is the solution then? There is no simple answer. We are trapped in cycle of use and misuse, forever controlled by the strict demands of a hungry society. Without it, we are doomed and with it we are also most likely heading for disaster. With careful preparation and a global shift towards a concentrated plastic cleanup effort, we may still stand a chance of making it into the next millennium.