Plastics, sustainable development and environmental issues.pptx

A lecture to students of Masters in Environmental Sciences on Plastics, sustainable development and environmental issues.

1. Plastics, Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development 01 Sept 2024 1 Energy and Environment - ENV- 601 Central Dept. of Environment Science, TU, Kirtipur Ramesh Man Singh (Chemical Engineer, Plastic technology) , Visiting Faculty [email protected]

2. Plastics - How many products can you count? 01 Sept 2024 2 We use plastics from morning till night

3. 01 Sept 2024 3 The word plastic comes from the Greek word plastikos meaning, "fit for molding" or from the Latin word plasticus meaning "capable of molding". Both bear similar meaning. Likewise polymer is a Greek word – poly means many and mer means part, so "many parts". This is why most of the commonly used plastics or polymers have the prefix "poly" meaning "many". Thus polyethylene (PE) means many ethylenes , similarly the names polypropylene (PP) polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), also bear the same meanings. PE is –(CH 2 -CH 2 ) n - PVC is -(CH 2 -CH) n - Cl What are plastics and polymers? P olymer is a natural/artificial compound of large molecules called macromolecules, made of small simple molecules linked together to form a chain. Polymer is made up from one macromolecular substance without additives but plastic consists of a mixture of polymer/polymers with additives (plasticizers, coloring agents, stabilizers, etc , etc .)

4. 01 Sept 2024 PLASTIC MATERIALS Natural Synthetic Hybrid Bioplastics from plants and animals Hybrid Plastics Plastics from petroleum products Types of Plastics Natural plastics – nature made such as cotton, wool, silk, proteins, jute, etc. They originate from plant & animal kingdom. Synthetic plastics - man-made such as PE, PP, PVC, PS, PET, PC, etc. ( originating from petroleum products and chemicals) Hybrid plastics - synthetic plastics modified with Bioplastics 4

5. 01 Sept 2024 5 Code numbers & abbreviations for easy identification of plastics to assist recycling MOST COMMONLY USED PLASTICS

6. Natural & Bio-based plastics PVC plastics PU, PS, ABS, PC PET plastics PE &PP Greenpeace plastics pyramid Greenpeace plastics hierarchy- top down Bad plastics Good plastics 01 Sept 2024 6

7. 01 Sept 2024 7 ~300 mil tons ~ 380 mil tons ~5 mil tons ;. Data; 1950 to 2016 (Plastics Europe 2016); 2017-2018 (Plastics Europe (2019). Forecast 2020 to 2050, this study. Global production volume of plastics. Blue line, production 1950 to 2018 orange line, forecast production 2020 to 2050

8. 01 Sept 2024 8 World Production - Plastics vs other Materials

9. 01 Sept 2024 9 Total= ~391 million tons

10. 01 Sept 2024 10 Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) Acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile (ASA) Styrene acrylonitrile (SAN)

11. Plastics consumption by industry Sector for EU Packaging-38.1% Building & construction – 17.6% Electrical & Electronic - 7,3% Agriculture – 2.5% Automotive -7.0% Other household 22.3% Large industry 5.2% Total: 38, 123, 000 tonnes MATERIALS RECYCLING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE 01 Sept 2024 11

12. 01 Sept 2024 12 380 mill T 305 mill T 170 mill T 75 mill T 60 mill T

13. 01 Sept 2024 13 Plastic Industries and products in Nepal

14. Scenario of Plastic Industries in Nepal First plastic industry in 1965 – Bijeswori Plastic Udyog Pvt Ltd About 500 ( 470 2014 plastic industries- all plastic processing ~ 100,000 tons of plastic goods annually Three dozen (~36) industries with foreign investment 20% of products used in Nepal & rest exported to India Investment of > 8 billion NRs (1 US $ = NRs 72) (now Rs 37 billion) Employ > 20,000 ( now 50,000 2014 ) people and Give revenue of about 3 billion NRs annually ( Rs 7 billion now ) About 300 ( 260-270) industries produce shopping bags Nepal Plastic Manufactures Association – 1986 (>300members) Plastic Byabasahi Sang Chitwon (2002) Recycled Plastic Manufacturers Association (2000) (~100members) Plastnepal Foundation (June 2014) (25+29+…) (F/Y 2000/2001; 2014 ) 01 Sept 2024 14

15. PE shopping bags & sheets Polythene pipes & fittings PVC pipes and pipe fittings PVC slippers and footwear Plastic containers & Jerry cans PVC cable, PVC profiles Domestic utensils Plastic cordage and ropes Water tanks, containers Plastic emulsion paints Fiber glass products Disposable cups PU foam and dunlop Melamine cutlery PET bottles, PET jars Synthetic textiles/Carpets Polyester cloth/products Suitcases and luggage PVC doors & windows Major plastic products PE shopping bags *~ 300 ( 260-270) industries produce PE shopping bags - In (F/Y 2000/2001) * 30,000 tons - only 5000 tons in domestic market rest as export * Thin (6 micron) bags produced before (Fy1999/2000) * Now allowed to produce bags of > 20 microns thickness (40 microns) 01 Sept 2024 15

16. PET bottles Flex Ads and sign boards PVC Slippers Domestic utensils Milk pouches & crates Oil Meat products 01 Sept 2024 16

17. PE Sheets Jerrycans Water tanks HDPE Pipes Some plastic products PVC pipes 01 Sept 2024 17 PVC windows

18. Some major plastic products in Nepal No Products Quantity ton/year 1. Pipes – PVC and PE 12,000 2 Slippers, footwear and shoes 16,000 3 Oven sacks (polypropylene) 6,000 4 PE shopping bags 30,000 5 Household goods 2,000 6 Others 4,000 Source: Nepal Plastic Manufacturer’s Association and Industrial Statistics (F/Y year 2000/01) 01 Sept 2024 18

19. Plastics & Sustainable Development 01 Sept 2024 19

20. Plastics & Sustainable Development Importance & Advantages of Plastics Plastics play a significant role in environmental, societal & economic dimensions of sustainable development replacing most traditional materials like paper, rubber, glass , leather, wood, metal as they possess many beneficial properties as: Extreme versatility & can meet specific technical needs. Light weight reducing fuel consumption in transportation Good durability, resistance to chemicals , water & impact. Good safety and hygienic properties for food packaging. Excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties. Relatively inexpensive to produce Specialty plastics – bullet proof, space technology, defense, etc 01 Sept 2024 20 40% HF storage

21. Economic development Plastics have enhanced all sectors of economy Agriculture – accelerating green revolution thru Plasticulture – drip irrigation, mulch films, plastic green house, off season cultivation, etc Forest conservation – millions of PE bags for tree saplings, plastic substitutes (doors & windows, furniture, plastic crates, etc) save forests Medicine and healthcare - B lood bags, IV fluids systems, syringes medical package, artificial limbs, self-dissolving stiches, etc Automotive transport ( automobiles, trains, air transportation) – tires, seat covers, lights, safety bags, window glasses, parts to reduce weight, etc. Electrical & electronics - cables, IT equipment, audio visuals, computers, TV, cables, phones, mobile phones, electronic gadgets, etc Building & infrastructure –furniture, carpets, curtains, door, windows, parquetting and paneling, wall coverage , etc Domestic sector – Utensils, domestic instruments, furniture, carpets, curtains upholstery, clothing, footwear, packaging of food products, etc Water supply & sewerage – PVC, PE, cPVC pipes, storage tanks, lining materials, etc 01 Sept 2024 21

22. Plastics – All Pervading- in all sectors of economy … most products contain plastics or are contained in plastics Automobiles – 40% plastics save 500 liters over 150,000km Packaging - save 50% of food bet. farm & kitchen; 26% fruits/vegetables at supermarket; extends shelf life of cucumber from 3 to 14 days; MAP ( modified.atm.Pack )packaging extends shelf life of meat to over a week. Electronics & IT- Electronic devices, TV, mobile phones, Opt fiber Houseware – Food protection & conservation Health & Medicare Agriculture & Horticulture Drip Irrigation, off season vegetable cultivation (Plasticulture), post harvest Food Chain Management from farm house to homes 01 Sept 2024 22

23. Per capita consumption of plastics Emerged as an economic indicator Nepal =0.8 Pakistan = 3.1 India = 3.3 ( ~6 ) China= 7.0 Japan= 110 USA=120 01 Sept 2024 23

24. 01 Sept 2024 24 November 2017 Per capita consumption of plastics 10 kg – PlastNepal Foundation 2020 USA- 145 kg/year

25. Packaging indicators 390 210 310 260 A study report by IIP ( The Indian Institute of Packaging) Packaging indicators for plastics and other materials Plastics - a boon to mankind Environmental impact of non-Plastics packaging material 01 Sept 2024 25

26. Energetics of Packaging Materials Plastics – Least Energy Consuming materials… Life Cycle Analysis (L.C.A.) - measurements of energy-input and the pollution discharged to land, water and air, at every stage, or more simply 'the cradle to grave' approach. Energy consumed in production of different materials 01 Sept 2024 26 Resource/Energy Conservation

27. Resource Conservation Type Gms Tinplate Container 63 Plastic Container 40 Tetra pack* 30-35 PET bottles 22-28 Plastic Pouches 9 Case Study: Edible Oil Type Gms Glass Bottle 750 Tetra pack* 26 PET Bottles 20-25 Plastic Pouches 4.5 Case Study: Milk *composite of Paper/foil/plastic (Weight of packaging materials for packing one liter) Source : IIP 01 Sept 2024 27

28. Milk package & delivery Hundreds of Thousands of families daily receive fresh, unadulterated and pasteurized milk….….. thanks to Pouches Water conservation- We do not have sufficient water to drink……. Do we have the water to wash so many bottles? 01 Sept 2024 28 750 gms 4.5gms

29. Socio-economic Impact of plastics in Agriculture sector, Nepal Plasticulture/Cucumber cultivation – in Dhading 1978 Cost: Season Rs 5/kg, off season (Dec-Apr) Rs 49/kg (9 times), Vegetables are 3 times more profitable than cereals Tunnels size: 1–1.5m dia , 0.5m ht and 10 m to 20 m long PE sheets-thickness of 30–35 microns & 1m wide (Rs 100/kg)- Now better UV stable plastic sheets lasting >3 years In 1998/99 total cucumbers in Kalimati market was 3043.78 tons with 661.45 tons from Dhading district A farmer in 1997 earn a profit of Rs 20,000.00 from 2 ropanis (0.1018 ha) of land. Source: CIPA website, Plasticulture online II 2004, International Committer for Plastics in Agriculture (CIPA) 01 Sept 2024 29

30. Vegetable cultivation using plastic tunnels & greenhouses 01 Sept 2024 30 Surkhet Godavari Humla Bajhang

31. Impact on other sectors Domestic sector – PE plates, cups, buckets, jerry cans PP containers/vessels (food savers), PP water bottles, PP carpets, PET jars, bottles and vessels, PS cups plates, plastic furniture, etc. - affordable products for low income group Durable, unbreakable and long lasting low cost - Cost is 2-4 times less than others materials Light weight easy to carry/transport (hills/villages) Stable to acid, oil, kerosene, etc (see kerosene line) Good for storage of food products Colorful & attractive & Recycle value 01 Sept 2024 31

32. Polyester jackets PVC slippers Clothing and footwear Market is flooded with clothes & different footwear (Different types of shirting & suiting materials, different clothes, costumes, (imported and produced in Nepal) raincoats, different footwear (sport shoes, slippers etc) Cheap, colorful and comfortable (warm and protective) Durable, strong and color don’t fade away (cotton, wool) Easy to wash and maintain Two items to highlight for low income groups Polyester jackets- ( esp , in hilly regions) and PVC slippers – no barefooted person now 01 Sept 2024 32

33. Other sectors Temporary Construction - Cheap roofing and structures, exhibition stalls, living quarters, etc Irrigation & water management – especially in the hilly areas PE pipes for water supply and irrigation (drip) Afforestation programs for Nepal –tree saplings in PE bags (millions of bags are used annually) 01 Sept 2024 33

34. Roof of Hong Kong market Leak Proof during rainy season Shopping booths during festivals Plastic sheets in use Leak proof for Temple 01 Sept 2024 34

35. Plastic waste management 3–R Principles of waste management 01 Sept 2024 35 Reduce 1 R – use less plastics to get same products- (Generation of less waste) Reuse 2 R – use plastic products many times – Recycle 3 R – use waste plastics to get new products – (Use as starting raw material) (Price & Joseph, 2000) Waste Management hierarch

36. 01 Sept 2024 36 Plastic waste management

37. Recycling – an opportunity for poor Recycling is a big business in Nepal (started in 1995) Kathmandu valley (5 cities) generate ~ 75 tons of plastic waste daily Over 12 tons (5 trucks) of plastic waste per day went for recycling and sale Over 80 plastic recycling industries of different scales and sizes Recycled Plastic Manufactures Association (2000) Nepal Recycle Producer Association (NEREPA) buyers of recycl . materials. > 36 kabadi centers & kabadi 250 shops in KMC, > 35- 40 groups of waste pickers operating in the KMC Cost of plastic waste–RP: Rs 4-6/kg, Collection centers:Rs 10/kg, Kabadi Centres : Rs 12-16/kg Rag pickers - in Kathmandu – ~ 5000-10,000. Earn min Rs. 100-300/day to max Rs 5000/day JICA 2004 study 01 Sept 2024 37

38. Plastics collected for recycling in 5 8 Municipalities & Kathmandu valley 600 tons plastic waste per day, WB 2020 01 Sept 2024 38 Av composition of MSW is: organic waste 56%, plastics 16%, paper & paper 16%, glass 3%, metals 2 %, textiles 2%, rubber and leather 1%, and others 4 % ADB 2013 1 person - 500 g waste/day . Plastic waste is 12 percent. FY 2004- 450 tons per months

39. MSW management with Recovery & Recycling of waste 01 Sept 2024 39 – Municipal solid waste (MSW) Other waste - non-recyclable plastic, paper waste, etc. Recyclable waste (glass, metal, paper, plastics, etc.) Organic waste fraction Before- Compost or landfill Now – Biogas: small, big and landfill Before - Recycling in India Now- Mechanical recycling in Nepal, plastic bricks, asphalt substitute, etc. Before- Landfill only Now- Thermal recycling –RDF, fuel for industries, Chemical liquid fuels, etc. Biodegradable Mechanical recycling & recovery of resources Thermal & chemical recycling Inert & other waste Landfill only . FY 2000-2001 FY after 2001

40. Plastics & environment 01 Sept 2024 40 Nearly 38 years ago - the first interaction program on plastics and environment pollution, organized by Nepalese Federation of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) in 1986. Many discussion programs, many seminars, interaction programs have been organized; TV, radio, papers have all covered this issue of plastics and environmental pollution . Main argument – plastics pollutes, does not disintegrate, causes many diseases – skin diseases, cancer, etc etc. Therefore, it has to be banned. People are accusing that these bags even deplete the ozone layer ( Nagarik editorial of 2 Baisakh 2070). Article to counter it and correction Jestha 2070

41. Debate on plastics & environment Many cities have put forth proposal to ban plastics bags and cases have been filed in different courts to ban polythene shopping bags. But the Supreme Court of Nepal has turned down the idea of banning plastic bags asking technical proof of the allegations before banning it. Workers in PE bags industries work 12-14 hours. Can they (KMC) find any disease caused by PE bags? Street urchins (~10,000) work day and night collecting plastics and PE bags. They earn their living from this business. These people should be very sick as per propaganda about PE shopping bags!! 01 Sept 2024 41

42. Some clipping about plastics 01 Sept 2024 42

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45. Nepalese F ederation o f Environment Journalists (NEFEJ) Greenpeace Nepal Chapter - Got ADB funding for study to ban PLASTIC BAGS Different NGOs – The Explore Nepal Group, WEPCO, etc. Hamri Bahini Group – sale cloth bags Behind scene players 01 Sept 2024 45 Polyethylene bag

46. Littering – haphazard disposal of anything or material, especially waste materials/products Anything can litter including plastics & Plastics especially shopping bags are more visible, Light and can be carried by wind (Macro or Meso plastics) They will stay for decades and slowly decompose, causing pollution Pollution – contamination of environment (air, water & surroundings ) from degradation (biological, chemical, thermal, etc) of materials including plastics Chemicals (colorants, stabilizers, plasticizers, lubricants, fillers, etc) Gases ( HCl , Cl , CO, CO 2 , NO x , dioxin & dibenzofurans , POPs, etc) Smoke/soot –carbon particles Micro plastics – plastics particles less than 5 mm Plastics and environment Two majors issues 01 Sept 2024 46

47. This is Littering 01 Sept 2024 47 Teku D ovan – plastic waste Plastic waste in Bishnumati

48. 1 01 Sept 2024 48 This is Pollution Nearly 20 years back ~ 2000 Waste management act 2012 Saturday 16 April 2022

49. 01 Sept 2024 49 Saturday 16 April 2022 Waste is still burnt by Municicpality swipper

50. Pollution from micro plastics 01 Sept 2024 50 5 Ways Plastic Harms the Environment Kills Life in water bodies (lakes, seas, Oceans) Kills Terrestrial Wildlife. Takes Up Space ... Produces Chemical Pollution. ... Creates Micro plastics. Micro plastics can absorb undesirable chemicals (heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and pesticides. Human consumption of micro plastics can result in an increased exposure to these chemicals and might lead to poisonous effects . Recent research makes clear that micro plastics are everywhere (ubiquitous), they enter peoples' bodies regularly during inhalation or through consumption of food or drinks . The most common micro plastics found in the marine environment are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA, e.g., nylon), polyester (PES) and acrylic (AC )

51. Polyethylene & PVC Low-density (0.910–0.940   g/cm 3 ) PE production conditions: (high pressure) - Pressure = 1000-3000 atmospheres Temperature = 180-250 o C High-density (0.930–0.941   g/cm 3 ) PE production conditions: (low pressure) - Pressure = 30 – 60 atmospheres Temperature of production = 60 – 200 o C PE is -CH 2 -CH 2 - PVC is -CH 2 -CH- Cl Plastic processing -The additives (different types of chemicals, plasticizers, fillers, anti oxidants, coloring agents, etc , etc ) in PE are in the range of 1-3 % (mainly coloring agents,) for PVC it goes up to 35% by weight including coloring agents, plasticizers, etc , etc . 51 01 Sept 2024

52. 01 Sept 2024 52 The campaign that Plastic (PE) bags contain plasticizers and emit dioxins is a false/malicious report Plastic (PE) bags are made from Polyethylene – a polymer of Carbon & Hydrogen ( -CH 2 -CH 2 -) The material by itself is soft in nature. No plasticizers are used for any PE application including shopping Polybags. Plasticizers are used in PVC and PET Products & PVC may be a source of dioxins and dibenzo furans Major sources of dioxins : (In principal where there is fire there is dioxins) Production and disposal of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic Incineration (municipal, hazardous and medical waste) – low temperature Pulp and paper production that uses chlorine. Plastic bags contain plasticizers??

53. 01 Sept 2024 53 Dioxin Dioxins is a general term used to designate a group of ~210 dioxins and furans (organic chemicals containing chlorine). Of these 17 of them are considered super toxic, harmful and carcinogenic. The most notorious one is 2,3,7,8 tetrachlor - dibenzo -para-dioxin or just TCDD. Dioxin dates back to Vietnam war when agent orange was produced/used. TCDD was detected in Agent orange (2,4 D and 2,4,5 T - Herbicide) (1:1mixture of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid ) 3 conditions for the formation of Dioxin Presence of chlorine 2. Organic matter (benzene ring) 3. Temp T <600oC Dioxin concentration are measure in ppb or ppt They are difficult to detect/register Analysis of one sample costs ~ US $ 5000 -10,000 . (India- IRS 500,000/-) TCDD. Nowhere in the Greenpeace report of Dioxin will you find that burning of PE will generate dioxin or any harmful emissions. 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid

54. 01 Sept 2024 54 Pollution and GHG savings from plastics

55. Burden on Environment: A Comparison with Traditional Materials Comparison of pollution from different materials (LCA) Replacement of polyethylene by paper carry bags makes no sense ecologically Source : IIP 01 Sept 2024 55

56. GHG emission saving by Plastic Packaging Total Saving ˜ 220 (67+97+56) Mt CO2e Plastics Carry Bags reduce GHG emission Source: McKinsey LCA study for International Council of Chemical Association 01 Sept 2024 56

57. Upcycling of plastic wastes- leads to micro plastics 01 August 2023 57

58. 19 April 2023 58 Road - Plastic mixed Road Rubber – Crumb rubber mix Green Road Waste Management Pvt Ltd. Thermal recycling (RDF ) – for kilns & cement industries (substitute of coal) Ways to fight plastic pollution- Based on Recycling Mechanical recycling- plastic mixed bricks - Thermoplastics & Thermosetting plastics RDF – ultimate solution to plastic pollution Generation of micro plastics

59. Some misconceptions about Plastics Plastics are considered as one material – No, they are a different group of materials with different values different chemical structure/composition properties (physical, chemical, mechanical) applications/purposes e.g. Like metals – one group but very different Plastics are harmful/poisonous – No ! Most plastics are harmless and very safe (PE, PVC, PP, PET, PC, PS, etc ) Only on degradation some become harmful due to heat which cause oxidation to give small amount of gases The starting materials (monomers) are usually harmful (ethylene, propylene, vinyl chloride, styrene, etc) Plastics do not degrade at all–No ! All plastics degrade depending upon the conditions where they are used or exists. They undergo degradation. Mechanical - High energy - Photo-degradation Chemical - Ultraviolet - Biodegradation Hydrolysis - Environmental Oxidation 01 Sept 2024 59

60. Say yes to plastics & Change our attitude towards Plastics – points to remember for us all Plastics do not litter – WE (humans) litter Plastic waste is very (colorful) visible & bulky Plastic waste (bags) is VERY light, carried away Plastics waste has low density – floats Plastics waste does not decay – remains long Plastics does not pollute – WE pollute – haphazard disposal leads to POLLUTION Synthetic plastics decompose slowly leading to micro plastics – then pollution Pollution starts when WE burn plastics waste openly Plastics is a boon (blessing) not bane (curse) 01 Sept 2024 60

61. Thank you! Any questions? 01 Sept 2024 61