Plastics are a form of secondary chemical production. It is necessary to understand the fundamentals of basic chemicals and synthetic chemicals production in order to understand the pollution prevention opportunities in the plastic products industries. Most production of plastic products is done by molding of raw plastic materials supplied by synthetic chemical producers. So, the most important strategy for environmental protection in the plastics products industry is the use of recycled and recyclable plastic as a raw material, and the design of products so they can be easily recycled.

Many kinds of plastic are easily recycled within the production process, so there is very little scrap. Most of the environmental concerns in such companies are about air emissions. Changes in plastic formulation and improvements in air emissions controls are the main environmental protection solutions for air pollution. Energy efficiency is particularly important for this sector because almost all processing uses heat. When scrap plastic cannot be recycled within the production process, it often can be ground up and used as a filler in other products.

Because the volume of plastic waste is relatively high in most developed countries, there are many organizations devoted to reducing plastic waste through consumer and producer education, and to recycling plastics. Most of the information about environmental protection in this industry is about recycling, and there is relatively little information about environmental improvements in plastics production. Of course the chemical and plastics industries have many technical resources and associations that can be used to find detailed technical solutions.

The table below lists solutions to reduce waste and pollution in plastics production. Company environmental programs should demonstrate that these options have been considered thoroughly. Direct links to online guides to pollution prevention in these industries follow the table.

Source: Profile of the Rubber and Plastic Industry. US EPA.

http://es.epa.gov/oeca/sector/index.html#rubber

Profile of the Plastic Resins and Man-made Fibers Industry describes the types of plastics and solutions for prevention of pollution in raw plastic production.

Profile of the Rubber and Plastic Industry covers the processes and environmental solutions in these industries and describes relevant regulations and resources.

http://es.epa.gov/oeca/sector/index.html#rubber

Biochemical Process Chemicals for Plastics Manufacturing is a fact sheet describing alternative chemicals.

Reducing Volatile Emissions in the Fiber Reinforced Plastics Industry is a fact sheet describing strategies for fiberglass product makers.

http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/newpages/jmsrvr.htm

http://www.epa.state.oh.us/opp/gov/fact25.html

Plastics Resource is an extensive site on plastics and the environment with technical details on the types of plastics and how they can be recycled.

Environment and Plastics Industry Council of Canada has many reports on recycling.

http://www.cpia.ca/StaticContent/StaticPages/epic/index.html

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers has many resources for companies in the plastic recycling business.

Carbohydrate Economy is a major site devoted to alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, such as cellulose plastics. It has many reports available.

Society of Plastics Engineers, Recycling Division is a professional group that shares technical knowledge.

News about regulation of plastics is often found at Modern Plastics and Plastics News

The Society of the Plastics Industry

Society of Plastics Engineers

Plastics Technology Magazine