There are a variety of different materials and fabrics now being used around the home. In this section we provide some basic information on each and any issues involved with their use.
Organic materials | Plastic materials | Ways to replace plastic
Compare Organic & Petroluem based lubricants | Lead Dangers
Plastic
Plastic is a term used to cover a wide range of synthetic and non-synthetic materials used in the production of products as varied as bottles, caps, bags, through to industrial and vehicle components.
Plastics are generally classified by their molecular structure which includes acrylics and polyurethanes.In general most plastic bags are made from ethylene which is a gas produced as a by-product from other industrial processes. The light weight supermarket bags are made of high density olyethene (HDPE) while the heavier bags are made from low density polyethene (LDPE).
The popularity of plastic is built around the low costs of manufacture, ease of manufacture, waterproof nature, and the varied applications it can be used for. The downside of plastics is typically their hardness, density, poor resistance to heat and acids. It is for these reasons that wood and concrete retain their popularity in the building industry.
While plastic has low toxicity in itself, many of the additives found in plastic can be harmful. Further, the fact that plastic is durable means that it takes hundreds of years to break down in landfills. Even so, this breakdown is into smaller plastic polymers which can ultimately end back up in the food chain. Equally the manufacture of plastic is not environmentally friendly.
With the environmental impact of plastics continuing to grow the push is on to reduce its use and move to more environmentally sustainable products.
Why not use Plastic | Alternatives to Plastic
Nylon
Nylon is a type of synthetic polymer made largely from petroluem based products and was originally developed in the 1930's to replace silk in fabrics. Today its use is wide spread across many different industries.
Nylon has some key advantages leading to its huge popularity, namely strength, durability, light weight, easily dyed, and versatility. Its heat resistance is often questionable in certain circumstances but generally it is a top choice for use in the fabric industry.
Unfortunately like many petroluem based products, Nylon takes significant period of time to break down and like plastic ends up contaminating landfills and environments around the world.
Polyester
Polyester is a polymer typically made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This is the same material found in drink bottles but ultimately it is a form of plastic. However, the key advantage is that polyester can be recycled through reheating and thus converted back into polymer fibres and thus reused.
Generally polyester is a very versatile material, resilient, resistant to water and mold-mildew, resistant to crinkling, and can be formed into various applications such as bottles.
Given the ability of polyester to be recycled and reused, gives it a competitive edge over other forms of plastic.
