What is plastic made of: these are the ingredients
In this article we explain what plastic is made of. You have it in your hand several times a day. Whether in the morning brushing your teeth, at noon at takeaway meals or in the evening with a bottle of cola. But what is the material that shapes our environment?
It's made of plastic
Ever since plastic was invented, it has become inconceivable in our lives. Whether clothing fibers, windows, bags or shoes. Plastic consists of carbon with additives such as plasticizers or dyes.
- We basically differentiate between synthetic and semi-synthetic plastics.
- Synthetic plastics consist of crude oil that has been processed. About four percent of the world's oil is used for this.
- Semi-synthetic plastics are created by changing natural materials.
- Due to the unclear materials and the large number of plastics, alternatives to plastic are increasingly being sought.
Other ingredients
Plastic or plastic is often made from petroleum, but there are many other substances that plastic could be made from. On the one hand, it can be recycled so that new oil does not always have to be used.
- Another important supplier of plastic is rubber from the rubber tree.
- Plastic can also be obtained from cellulose, which is biodegradable due to its vegetable base.
- Plastic made from milk protein was already produced in the 16th century.
In the following practical tip, we will introduce you to an app with which you can better identify harmful microplastics in products.