KidzTube
Welcome
Login / Register

Plastic: the new fantastic?

Thanks! Share it with your friends!

URL

You disliked this video. Thanks for the feedback!

Sorry, only registred users can create playlists.
URL


Channel: Cambridge University
Categories: Society / Culture   |   Environmental   |   Science   |   Social Science  
 Find Related Videos  added
251 Views

Description

Plastic has become a malevolent symbol of our wasteful society. Its also one of the most successful materials ever invented: its cheap, durable, flexible, waterproof, versatile, lightweight, protective and hygienic.

During the coronavirus pandemic, plastic visors, goggles, gloves and aprons have been fundamental for protecting healthcare workers from the virus. But what about the effects on the environment of throwing away huge numbers of single-use medical protection equipment? How are we to balance our need for plastic with protecting the environment?

Delayed as a result of the pandemic, the film is being released now because it considers how society might reset the clock when it comes to living better with a vital material. We hear how Cambridge University's Cambridge Creative Circular Plastics Centre (CirPlas) aims to eliminate plastic waste by combining blue-sky thinking with practical measures from turning waste plastic into hydrogen fuel, to manufacturing more sustainable materials, to driving innovations in plastic recycling in a circular economy.

As a chemist I look at plastic and I see an extremely useful material that is rich in chemicals and energy a material that shouldnt end up in landfills and pollute the environment, says Professor Erwin Reisner, who leads CirPlas, funded by UK Research and Innovation. Plastic is an example of how we must find ways to use resources without irreversibly changing the planet for future generations.

Explore more:
CirPlas: https://www.energy.cam.ac.uk/Plastic_Waste/about
Cambridge research on sustainability: www.cam.ac.uk/topics/sustainable-earth

Thumbnail credit - Karina Tess on Unsplash

Post your comment

Comments

Be the first to comment









RSS