Threat to Benefit: Proper Utilization of Plastic by Kartikeya Singh X-E

Using ethically sourced products creates a better life for everyone involved in the product, from the producer to the consumer. Achieving global sustainability is not just about what we use, but also about how it's produced, utilized and disposed of. When we talk about environmental conservation, there is one fabric which all of us unanimously agree to stop using: plastic. It doesn’t decompose easily, can release poisonous gases on burning, and can even kill animals if they consume it. Although these characteristics easily make it a threat to the environment, plastic can be used, if we know how to properly utilize it in the end.

A Scottish Company named MacRebur just came up with an innovative solution for this problem. The company has started creating roads using recycled plastic. These roads are shown to be more durable and stronger than the normal roads, which are made from asphalt. The asphalt roads normally crack or stop working in cases of rains or storms. But the plastic roads have been shown to be resistant to strong forces. MacRebur claims that they are 60% stronger than asphalt roads and can even last 10 times longer. Each mile of road can make use of approximately three million single-use plastic bags.

Sweden is taking a similar approach to tackle this issue. Instead of seeing plastic as a waste, the Swedish government has seen it as a commodity. The government has initiated a new protocol in which waste and plastic is being converted into energy. Plastic and waste are taken into Swedish Power Plants, where they are converted into energy sources like heat and electricity and supplied to all the houses. Not only is this a great solution to replacing fossil fuels with other forms of energy, but it is also generating around 100 million US Dollars annually, by importing trash from other countries, and recycling it to produce energy.

Closer to home in India, in the state of Assam, child crèches are being made by plastic. Plastic bottles and Non-Biodegradable waste are the main sources. Although India has taken initiatives for the proper utilization of plastic, there is still a lot to be done. Hence, we must start recycling plastic in an eco-friendly manner, as that’s the key for a sustainable future.