Environmental advantages

The amount of energy consumed during the manufacture of plastic is low compared with many other materials. Plastic saves resources: Replacing heavier materials in cars, trains, ships and aircraft with lighter plastic components saves fuel. Replacing heavy packaging with plastic packaging saves costs and energy in transport.

Recyclable & reusable
A considerable amount of plastic waste is collected and regranulated for use in new plastic products, particularly those that don't require raw materials of the very highest quality, such as:

• Rubbish bags
• Compost holders
• Road signs
• Beer & soft drink crates
• Fleece clothing

Saves energy
Plastic that is not recycled can be incinerated to generate heat or electric power. The EU considers this to be as good as material re-use. The incineration of polyethylene, which is the most common type of plastic in use, releases only water and carbon dioxide.
 
Environmental impact must be measured over a product's entire life cycle, including production, use and treatment at the end of the product's life. In building insulation, for instance, plastics save the energy needed to produce the insulation many times over. In most cases, plastics prove environmentally superior to other materials when compared in a life-cycle analysis (LCA).