title
PLASTIC
Erika Artaker Plastic – icon – climatechange science resources
subtitle
earth
date
2018 08 [source 2015]
caption
MATERIAL – DEGENERATION + USAGE – WASTE
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title
PLASTIC1 – 5
5
DATA SOURCE
5_1    USAGE + WASTE
world / 2015
data source:
R. Geyer, J. R. Jambeck, K. Lavender Law, el. al,
Science Advances, 2017,
Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made
Vol. 3, no. 7, e1700782; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700782
table S5, fig.1, fig. 3
table S6, fig. 2, fig. 4
5_1.1    by SECTOR
world / 2015
Global primary plastics PRODUCTION and WASTE generation in 2015 according to primary industrial use SECTOR.
(in million metric tons)
table S5


world / 2015
Global primary plastics PRODUCTION according to industrial use SECTOR from 1950 to 2015.
(in million metric tons)
fig. 1


world / 2015
Global primary plastics WASTE generation according to industrial use SECTOR from 1950 to 2015
(in million metric tons)
fig. 3
5_1.2    by TYPE
world / 2015
Global primary plastics PRODUCTION and primary WASTE generation in 2015 according to polymer TYPE/additive
(in million metric tons)
table S6


world / 2015
Global primary plastics PRODUCTION according to polymer TYPE from 1950 to 2015
(in million metric tons)
fig. 2


world / 2015
Global primary plastics WASTE generation according to polymer TYPE from 1950 to 2015.
(in million metric tons)
fig. 4
5_2    YEARS - decompose
World Economic Forum
The New Plastics Economy Rethinking the future of plastics. [Paper]
2016 01

FAQs on Plastics
2018 09 02
Hannah Ritchie
Our Word In Data

A Story of Time and Material - The Decomposition of Waste in Landfill:
2019 05 16
Rick LeBlanc

Plastics by the numbers
2012 05 02
Greg Seaman

How Quickly Does Plastic Breakdown?
2011 02
Kenneth Sleigh
5_3    MATERIAL
The Different Types Of Plastic:
How Many There Are (& What They Are), Most Commonly Produced, What They Are Used For, Which Types Can Be Recycled & More
2019 03 01
Better Meets Reality

TYPE
PET/E
HD-PE, LD-PE
PVC
PP
PS
PA  
PU  
4
WHAT IS
4_1    ADDITIVES
world / 2015
data source:
R. Geyer, J. R. Jambeck, K. Lavender Law, el. al,
Science Advances, 2017,
Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made,
Vol. 3, no. 7, e1700782; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700782
world / 2000 - 2014
Share of ADDITIVE type in global plastics production from data covering the period 2000–2014
table S3
3
ETXTRACTION
3_1    PET/E
C10 H8 O4
Polyethylene Terephthalate
1 PET / E – Polyethylene Terephthalate – C10 H8 O4
5 / 10 Y
Water Bottles, gear, bearing, seat belt, truck tarpaulin, electronic part
Polyethylene Terephthalate – C10 H8 O4 – PET / E
3_2    HD/PE
C2 H4
Polyethylene High density
2  HD / PE – High density Polyethylene – C2 H4
100 Y
Shampoo Bottles, milk bottles, grocery bags, milk jugs, recycling bins, playground equipment
High density Polyethylene – C2 H4 – HD / PE
3_4    LD/PE
C2 H4
Polyethylene Low density
4 LD / PE – Low density Polyethylene – C2 H4
500 / 1.000 Y
Plastic Bags, laboratory equipment, six pack rings
Low density Polyethylene – C2 H4 –  LD / PE
3_3    PVC
C2 H3 Cl
Polyvinyl Chloride
3 PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride  – C2 H3 Cl
NO Y
Pipes, Windows, Toys, floor covering, hose
Polyvinyl Chloride  – C2 H3 Cl –  PVC
3_5    PP
C3 H6
Polypropylene
5  PP – Polypropylene – C3 H6
NO Y
One-way Packaging, garden furniture, suitcases, clothing, caps and closures, fishing rope, hinges, cases, automotive industry [spoiler, housings, seat covers], medical devices
Polypropylene – C3 H6 – PP
3_6    PS
C8 H8
Polystyrene
6 PS – Polystyrene – C3 H8
NO Y

Expanded
Packaging - Styrofoam, boards, pellets, food container

Extruded
Construction - Styrodur, insulation panels
Polystyrene – C3 H8 –  PS
3_PA    PA
C18 H35 N3 O3
Polyamide
[eg. Polypthalamide]
PA – Polyamide – C18 H35 N3 O3
NO Y
Sockings - Nylon, parachute, Kevlar, toothbrush bristles, ropes, clothing, adhesives, strings [instrument + tennis], machine parts [gears, bearings], electronics
Polyamide – C18 H35 N3 O3 – PA
3_PU    PU
C15 H10 N2 O2 + C2 H6 O2
Polyurethane
[eg. MDI 4,4 + Polyol]
– PU – Polyurethane – C15 H10 N2 O2 + C2 H6 O2
NO Y
Foam, spray polyurethane foams (SPF), building panels, sponge, mattress, shoe soles, soccer ball, bushings for skatboards, adhesives, primer, cosmetics, car seats + dashboards
Polyurethane – C15 H10 N2 O2 + C2 H6 O2  – PU
2
RE_SOURCES
5_2    production
data source:
R. Geyer, J. R. Jambeck, K. Lavender Law, el. al,
Science Advances, 2017,
Vol. 3, no. 7, e1700782; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700782

Global plastics production,
1950 – 2015

Our World Data,
1
INFO
1_1    ARTICLES
The Different Types Of Plastic: How Many There Are (& What They Are), Most Commonly Produced, What They Are Used For, Which Types Can Be Recycled & More
2019 03 01
Better Meets Reality

How Long Does It Take Garbage to Decompose?
2018 05
Rick LeBlanc

How Quickly Does Plastic Breakdown?
2011 02
Kenneth Sleigh

The Decomposition of Waste in Landfills: A Story of Time and Material.
2019 05 16
Rick LeBlanc
May 9th, 2025