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PolskiSubtopic 2: What is Plastic?
In this subsection, let’s try to consider the title question from two different perspectives. First, what is plastic literally, what plastics make it up, and second, what does plastic mean to humanity then and today? Plastic is a colloquial term for plastics, otherwise known as polymers. Their main components are synthetic, natural, or modified polymers.
The Greek word polymeres means multi-part. Polymer plastics are composed of the so-called mers (meri/μέρη=parts)– these small molecules of the same compound react with themselves to form a compound with a higher molecular weight and different chemical and physical properties than its constituent compounds, that is, the polymer (source).
Natural polymers (biopolymers) are produced by living organisms. These include cellulose, rubber and chitin, from which arthropods build their skeletons. Synthetic polymers are a human invention and are the main building blocks of not only plastics, but also adhesives, paints and varnishes. Synthetic polymers, such as plastics, are created from fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil, which were formed in the geological past from the remains of dead organisms. The third group is modified polymers, which are artificially modified natural polymers (OECD: 2022, source). According to alarming forecasts, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans (source). Even if we take action, we have to reckon with 710 million tons of plastic waste in 2040 (source).
Now let’s consider its significance and place in human culture. Plastic has become synonymous with throwing away. For its eloquent symbol in the material culture, we can consider the plastic bag as a representative of our sins against nature (source). Unfortunately, we forget what a fantastic invention the plastic bag actually is: a waterproof, reusable, lightweight bag that can carry more than 1,000 times its own weight and can still be folded so small that it fits in a pocket (Freinkel,
2011, source). The inventor of the plastic bag was Sten Gustav Thulin, a Swedish engineer who conceived and patented his invention in 1959 for environmental reasons. Until then, the widespread use of paper bags caused deforestation, and plastic bags were an ideal alternative – provided they were reused for many years.
According to Kuijpers (source) there are two ways to understand things: through technical or cultural analysis. Technical analysis, called life cycle assessment (LCA) by scientists, determines what things are made of how and much, how much energy and emissions it takes to make a product, transport it, use it, recycle it, or destroy it. On the other hand, cultural analysis looks at what we do with items and what they mean to us. Objects can also have a cultural biography – unwritten cultural rules that determine how we treat certain objects. Have you ever wondered why some objects – for example a wedding ring or an instrument by a famous artist – carry an enormous amount of meaning, while we pay almost no attention to others? The cultural biography of the plastic bag and almost any simple plastic packaging is flimsy. It has no value – neither commercial nor biographical.