Professor Plastic – Plastics Make It Possible

Professor Plastic: How Many Types of Plastics Are There?

Jan 18, 2012 at 8:21pm • Add Comment

Quick quiz: How many types of plastics there are? No idea? Me neither … I have no exact number. It’s sort of like asking how many types of bread there are. Plastics aren’t simply one material made the same way every time. Although plastics can be broken down into broad types or categories, there actually…

Professor Plastic: My Favorite Highlights of the Early History of Plastic

Nov 7, 2011 at 6:28pm • 2 Comments

It’s difficult to imagine modern life without plastics. Take a moment … Our cars (seat cushions, air bags, bumpers, dashboards …) Our fashion (nylon, spandex, polyester, faux fur …) Our homes (carpeting, foam insulation, vinyl siding, composite decking …) Our appliances (televisions, coffee makers, alarm clocks, electric toothbrushes …) Our sports (football pads, bicycle helmets,…

What on Earth are Bioplastics?

Sep 29, 2011 at 2:41pm • 1 Comment

The term “bioplastics” seems to cause almost as much confusion as the term “biodegradable”. What exactly does the “bio” in bioplastics refer to? Bio … bio … hmmm. The history of plastics? No. Biotechnology? No. It actually has more to do with that oft-dreaded high school class, biology. You know: having to do with life,…

Are Plastics Biodegradable?

Sep 14, 2011 at 4:17pm • Add Comment

To many people, the term “biodegradable plastics” sounds like a contradiction in terms, sort of like a square circle. As usual, reality is a bit more complicated. First, let’s define biodegradable. From a scientific standpoint, the term most commonly refers to materials that can be broken down by microorganisms into organic matter, largely composed of…

What does that chasing arrow symbol on plastic products mean?

Jun 10, 2011 at 3:20pm • Add Comment

You see it all the time –- the chasing arrow with the number in the middle –- but what does it mean? That little symbol on a plastic product identifies the type of plastic (resin) used to make that item. So how does this relate to recycling? Well, recyclers sometimes use this information to sort…

What are plastics?

Jun 10, 2011 at 12:27pm • Add Comment

When you watch television, use a computer, ride in a bus, train, or plane, you are using plastics. When you go to the doctor’s office or hospital or shop at the grocery store, you again are relying on plastics. So where do plastics come from … and what are they? Plastics are derived from materials…

Introducing Professor Plastic!

Jun 9, 2011 at 2:53pm • 1 Comment

Hi, my name is Professor Plastic. Have you ever wondered: what exactly are plastics? Curious about where plastics come from? How they’re made? How they can be recycled? Well, that’s what I’m here for! I will try to answer all of your questions about plastics — their history, properties, popular products, environmental attributes, whatever. I’ll…

Plastics’ Stored Energy Helps Power Homes and Businesses

Mar 15, 2011 at 1:56pm • Add Comment

What happens to household garbage that is not recycled? More than half of household garbage in the U.S. is buried in landfills. However, some communities convert much of their garbage into energy that then is supplied to the electricity grid, powering homes and businesses. These communities have embraced energy recovery as a way to save…

Plastics Help Hybrid Cars Save Fuel

Jul 20, 2010 at 10:32pm • Add Comment

Light weight plastic components are key to the success of hybrid cars.

Plastic Innovations in Packaging Through the Decades

May 19, 2010 at 1:53pm • Add Comment

From the invention of plastic in the late 1800s to the introduction of Tupperware® in the 1940s to the latest innovations in easy-dipping ketchup packets, plastics have played an integral role in smart packaging solutions that help us do more with less. Whether it’s your new electronic gadget, your favorite beauty product, or what you’re…

Plastic Seat Belts Evolve to Help Save Lives

May 17, 2010 at 8:32pm • Add Comment

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that plastic fiber seat belts saved 15,147 lives in 2007 in the U.S. alone, making them one of the most important safety features in our cars and trucks. Compared to unbelted vehicle occupants, NHTSA estimates that today’s seat belts reduce fatalities by 45 percent and serious injury…

Plastics Help Protect You and Your Loved Ones on the Road

Apr 22, 2010 at 2:57pm • 4 Comments

From your windshield to your bumpers, plastics provide safety benefits in ways you may not see In the face of an annual average of more than 6 million auto crashes on U.S. roads, it’s good to know that many plastic vehicle components – both seen and unseen – contribute greatly to reducing the potential for…

Skis Overcome the Snowboard Onslaught with Plastics

Jan 22, 2010 at 2:04pm • Add Comment

We all remember the 90s. Grunge culture was at its apex and nothing epitomized the spirit of youth and fun more than the snowboard. Teens and young adults flocked to the board like plaid to Seattle. Skis were passé; the snowboard seemed edgier, hipper, and hotter. Yet in recent years skis have made a big…

How Plastics Make Today’s Skiing Possible

Jan 19, 2010 at 4:38pm • Add Comment

Skiing has been an official Olympic sport since the first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France in 1924.

A How-To-Guide To Recycling Plastics

Nov 13, 2009 at 12:40pm • Add Comment

To make it easier for consumers to recycle more, Plastics Make it Possible® offers the following tips for reusing and reusing everyday plastics. These simple steps can help you keep your commitment to protecting the environment every day. 1. Find out which plastics are accepted for recycling in your area and where they can be…

Self-Healing Plastics Could One Day Repair Planes in Flight

Oct 9, 2009 at 12:38am • 2 Comments

Engineers at Bristol University in the U.K. have created plastic technologies that could one-day lead to the development of airplanes that can literally fix themselves while they are still in the air. Interestingly, the British engineers were inspired by human biology; their plastic technology emulates the healing process in living organisms. The self-healing plastics have…