World
Plastic Builds the Future: Additive, Adaptive, Attractive
Plastics are playing an increasingly important role in modern construction - whether in innovative lightweight design or 3D printing. Compared to traditional building materials, they save resources and costs and reduce emissions. In addition, plastics offer multifunctional properties and open up new possibilities for creative architecture.
The construction sector is facing growing challenges: sand and gravel are becoming scarce, and urban housing is in short supply. At the same time, expectations around climate protection and sustainability are rising. A complex task.
Built with Plastic: More Efficient and High-Performing
According to a recent study by the Wuppertal Institute[1], the construction industry ranks among the most resource-intensive sectors. It accounts for nearly half of global raw material extraction, a third of global energy use, and is responsible for around 32% of global CO₂ emissions. Construction, renovation, and demolition also generate large amounts of waste—about 36% of total waste volume in the EU. The takeaway: growing cities need building methods that achieve more with less material. The solution: plastics.
Plastics are lightweight, durable, and highly formable. They insulate, conduct, and protect—permanently. Their material efficiency is particularly impressive: targeted fiber reinforcement makes plastic extremely strong with minimal volume. Window frames, pipes, and insulation materials are already largely made of plastic, and plastic façade systems are increasingly being used. The European construction sector consumes around 10 million tonnes of plastic per year, accounting for 20% of total plastic demand[2]. Thanks to their many advantages, the trend is rising.
Lightweight Builds from 3D Printers: Faster and More Efficient
Lightweight construction, in particular, has a promising future. “Lightweight design can help create urgently needed housing in cities by adding additional floors to existing buildings without overloading the foundations. Bridges built using lightweight materials require smaller foundations and can be erected more quickly,” says Prof. Dr. Markus Milwich from the Competence Center for Polymers and Fiber Composites at the DITF.
Lightweight construction means more than just reducing weight—it’s a strategic principle for urban transformation: from residential development and densification to hybrid constructions, infrastructure, digital building processes, and multifunctional façades. 3D printing with polymers takes this even further. In the USA, Netherlands, and China, entire houses are now being printed—from polymer-modified mortar or recycled plastic granules. This reduces time, material waste, and transport costs. No formwork. No offcuts. One house can be built in as little as 24 hours[3].
Sustainability through Plastic Mixes: Stronger and Future-Proof
Through compounding and fiber reinforcement, plastics can be specifically tailored for construction—by incorporating glass or carbon fibers. Fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP, CFRP) are particularly durable and strong. Prof. Dr. Milwich explains: “When the steel reinforcement in concrete is replaced with mats or rods made from carbon, glass, basalt, or even natural fiber composites, the walls or floors can be made significantly thinner—because GFRP/CFRP reinforcements don’t rust. Rust was a leading cause of the bridge collapses in Dresden and Genoa.” The use of fiber-reinforced plastics not only increases safety, but also reduces material usage and costs—and protects the environment.
Even used PET bottles, processed into fibers, can help make concrete eco-friendlier and more robust. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrated: Adding even small amounts of surface-activated PET microfibers significantly increases concrete’s strength—meaning less is needed overall[4]. The lower cement demand reduces the high emissions from concrete production and less waste ends up in landfills from Façades to Foundations benefits the environment.
Whether it's PET-, glass-, or carbon-fiber-reinforced concrete, modular wall systems, plug-in façades, or interchangeable pipes—plastics offer flexibility, efficiency, and recyclability through modern sorting systems. Even driveway panels, barn flooring, manhole covers, or grid paving stones made from recycled plastic are gaining traction. These lightweight, water-permeable, and low-maintenance components can be installed in no time. Conclusion: Plastics make building lighter, faster, cheaper, and more sustainable—meeting the high demands of future urbanization.
[1] https://wupperinst.org/fileadmin/redaktion/downloads/projects/
[2] https://plasticseurope.org/de/nachhaltigkeit/klima/bauwirtschaft/
[3] https://iconbuild.com
[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/
Image Source: Plastic is Fantastic
Image Caption: The use of fiber-reinforced plastics not only increases safety, but also saves material and costs while protecting the environment.
Plastic bags help protect the environment
In 1965, a Swedish engineer filed a groundbreaking patent in the USA: "A bag made of weldable plastic with handles." Today, we know this product as the plastic bag. Sten Gustaf Thulin came up with the idea because the rising demand for paper bags at the time led to increasing deforestation in Sweden.
From a practical standpoint, plastic bags are still a brilliant invention. They are waterproof inside and out, weigh almost nothing, and can carry up to a thousand times their own weight. They can be folded small enough to fit in any pocket. Depending on material thickness, they can be reused multiple times.
Nevertheless, plastic bags have a poor public image, which has led to bans on them in some parts of the world. Their bad reputation stems from being seen as disposable items, even though they can be reused many times and for long periods before eventually tearing. The public perceives paper or cotton alternatives as more environmentally friendly because they come from plants. That might sound reassuring - but it’s not. Take paper bags: the extraction of raw wood, the manufacturing of paper, and the transport to consumers consume far more resources than comparable plastic packaging. A paper bag would have to be reused more than 40 times to match the environmental footprint of a single-use plastic bag. Sten Gustaf Thulin foresaw this. More paper means more wood, which threatens forests.
A cotton bag made from organic cotton would need to be used at least 130 times to be a truly sensible alternative. That’s because growing these plants requires large amounts of fertilizers and water. Over time, this leads to soil salinization and reduced fertility.
Those advocating for a ban on plastic bags may also underestimate consumers' rational behavior. Where plastic bags have been banned, demand for them has dropped - but demand for trash bags has risen. These are also made from plastic, as the material offers unbeatable qualities: impermeability and tear resistance. Before the ban, many consumers reused their shopping bags multiple times and finally used them for collecting recyclables and residual waste.
That would have been exactly what their inventor intended. In an interview with a British outlet, his son once said: “My father would have found it bizarre if people simply threw away such a practical item.
The heavy and costly burden
Producing glass requires a great deal of energy and is therefore particularly affected by high procurement prices. In 2022, the Federal Association of the Glass Industry reported a fivefold increase in costs. The beverage industry is expected to pass these price hikes on to consumers. A good alternative: PET bottles – in more ways than one.
Fired up 24/7: glass likes it hot
Glass production is hotter than a volcano. Raw materials like sand, lime, and soda must be heated to 1,600 degrees Celsius to melt. Even when using 65% recycled glass shards, it still requires 1,400 degrees Celsius. To maintain these temperatures, furnaces must run continuously on gas or oil – any pause could destroy them. This energy requirement is costly, especially now, with soaring energy prices, despite government-imposed price caps.
According to the German Environment Agency, glass production is among the most energy-intensive industries, with high demands for energy and significant emissions of CO2, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action reported in its 2020 “Glass Industry Profile” that in 2015 the glass industry required 51.93 petajoules (about 14,436 gigawatt-hours) of energy just for the melting process. For comparison: a typical 6 MW wind turbine produces around 10 gigawatt-hours per year – enough for approximately 3,500 households[1]. To meet the glass industry's 2015 energy needs, 1,443 wind turbines would be required – equivalent to powering over 5 million households annually.
The same year, the glass industry emitted 4.881 million tons of CO2[2]. As such, the German Environment Agency notes, glass production can never be truly sustainable. However, there are alternatives for container glass used in beverage packaging that consume less energy and are more climate-friendly – chief among them: PET plastic bottles.
Reusable or disposable: which is more eco-friendly?
Glass and PET bottles share similarities: both are made from raw materials – sand for glass, petroleum for PET. However, PET bottles require only around 265 degrees Celsius to manufacture – more than 83% less heat than glass.
Both materials are used for reusable and disposable bottles and can be similarly well recycled. For reusable bottles, the German Environment Agency finds no major difference between glass and PET[3]. Glass bottles can be refilled up to 50 times, PET about half that. This reuse offsets raw material use and enhances sustainability. Producing new bottles consumes more energy and resources than transporting and cleaning reusables.
But this view is contested. “Environmental assessments reveal: the Achilles’ heel of reusable bottles is transportation logistics,” notes Dr. Isabell Schmidt from the German Plastic Packaging Industry Association.
A further challenge to the glass bottle reuse system is the use of individual (non–standardized) bottles for branding purposes, which can’t be reused by other fillers. These foreign bottles – up to 50% of returns – must be sorted out and returned to the original producer, incurring additional transport costs and ecological disadvantages.
Weighty matter: why logistics matters
Transport is a major factor in the energy and emissions balance of packaging, especially glass. The greater the distance between producer, filler, and retailer, the higher the impact – especially considering the weight. A 1-liter PET bottle weighs about 28 grams, a 1-liter glass bottle about 550 grams – nearly 20 times more. One metric ton equals 1,800 glass bottles or 35,000 PET bottles. The heavier the packaging, the more energy-intensive the logistics.
This becomes even more apparent when returning deposit bottles from retailers to recyclers. The Alliance for Future Beverage Packaging (BGVZ) calculated that 400,000 compressed PET bottles require one truckload, while 400,000 glass bottles need 26 truckloads.
The “Glass Industry Outlook 2030+” from the IG BCE’s Foundation for Labour and Environment outlines opportunities and risks. Challenges include energy-intensive production and the difficulty in transitioning to lower-emission technologies[4]. The industry fears ongoing high energy costs and stricter environmental regulations. Recent data confirms this: the Federal Statistical Office reported that in early 2023, producer prices for colorless glass bottles rose by 40.2% compared to January 2022, and colored glass bottles by 37%. Rising energy prices and increased raw material costs – 58.5% for soda, 30.4% for quartz sand, and 27.3% for limestone[5] – are the culprits. The glass industry also anticipates stronger competition from alternative materials like PET bottles.
[1] praxistipps.chip.de/wie-viel-strom-produziert-ein-windrad-das-muessen-sie- wissen_155947
[2] (BMWK) provides in the ‘Glass Industry Profile’ from 2020
[3] Umweltbundesamt.de/umwelttipps-fuer-den-alltag/essen trinken/mehrwegflaschen#unsere-tipps
[4] Spiegel.de, 16.03.2023
[5] Spiegel.de, 16.03.2023
Image Source: ALPLA
Image Caption: Hotter than a volcano – this is how glass is produced. Raw materials like sand, lime, and soda need up to 1,600 degrees Celsius to melt.
Plastic waste: From problem to potential
Waste has always been something hidden. It is only with the global emergence of plastic waste that the way we handle with used materials has become visible. Especially in the form of used plastic bottles - they are seen as a sign of a careless throwaway mentality. One thing is clear: plastic should not end up in the environment - which is also highlighted by the annual World Environment Day on June 5, 2025. A change is taking place here: plastic waste is increasingly being discovered as a valuable raw material. In this way, waste is becoming part of the solution.
Plastic is an ongoing success story. Established for decades as a central component of industry and daily life, plastic is also becoming an important factor for a sustainable circular economy after the use phase.
From disposable product to source of recyclable materials
The global presence of plastic waste and its ability to be recycled has realigned the political agenda and society's attitude towards waste and the environment. It is a fundamental paradigm shift: what was previously considered useless waste is now increasingly being discovered as a valuable resource. So instead of simply disposing of waste as quickly as possible as usual, it is now being used effectively - either through material recycling, which turns the used material into new components or complete products. Or with thermal utilization, which generates fresh energy by usingwaste that cannot or can no longer be recycled.
Drivers for transformation
The perception of waste as a potential raw material is also driving many innovations: from the expansion of safe and mobile plants for the thermal conversion of waste into electricity to the compostability of certain plastics and innovative processing techniques, such as molecular plastic recycling with enzymes.
Added to this is the use of new biomaterials and packaging designs with higher material efficiency, lower weight and increasing use of recyclates. These advances will ultimately lead to a circular recycling loop in which there is no more waste, as already demonstrated by the PET bottle-to-bottle system.
More mindfulness and initiatives
These developments are reinforced by sensitized consumers who are increasingly mindful of waste and take part in clean-up campaigns. Effective deposit and disposal systems as well as numerous initiatives for the productive recycling of waste also make an important contribution - such as the IMER and PLANETA recycling plants in Mexico, which accept plastic waste from local collectors for a fee and thus combine environmental protection and income opportunities.
Conclusion - plastic waste opens up new perspectives
The key to this process of change lies in giving plastic a value. Waste is thus transformed from a useless and problematic residual material into a raw material with potential. The economic incentive creates secondary markets that generate and promote innovative recovery concepts and advanced recycling technologies.
It also results in a fundamentally new perspective on waste - it is consciously perceived, triggering a better understanding of the value and life cycle of resources. This leads to a more responsible use of the material in any form, accompanied by a reduced tendency to waste and a greater willingness to dispose of it. Used plastic bottles are then no longer seen as a sign of a careless throwaway mentality, but become a symbol of an active and sustainable circular economy. All in the spirit of World Environment Day.
Image Source: ALPLA
Image Caption: Due to their good recyclability, used plastic bottles are increasingly evolving from a disposable product into a source of recyclable materials. This is also changing our awareness of waste: waste is turning from a problem into a potential, leading to more mindful handling and greater environmental protection.
How bottle deposit systems work when traveling
If you are out and about and like to use plastic bottles, you don't have to go without them. Drinks in PET bottles are available all over the world and can be disposed of almost anywhere in public collection containers or handed in at retailers. In addition, many countries have their own deposit systems or are currently introducing them, such as Austria from 2025. Plastic is also fantastic: in Rome and Istanbul, you can even exchange used plastic bottles for bus and train tickets. Even dog food. Meanwhile, France is emphasizing entertainment.
They hardly weigh anything and don't break: PET bottles are the ideal travel companions. Whether traveling at home or abroad – plastic bottles are available worldwide, easy to transport, easy to store and easy to dispose of locally. Returning plastic bottles is not just about sustainability, but also about creativity.
Garbage can and deposit system
Most vacation destinations have containers where travelers can dispose of their used plastic bottles in an environmentally friendly way. In addition, many regions have a deposit system like the German system, such as Scandinavia, the Netherlands or Croatia. Even in the distant South Sea paradise of Hawaii. There, a beverage deposit of 5 cents is charged for each plastic bottle, which is returned to the so-called Beverage Container Redemption Centers, i.e., the regional collection points. Austria will introduce a deposit of 0.25 euros per single-use plastic bottle from 2025. Other countries, such as Italy and Spain, do not yet have a deposit system, nor do Türkiye or France.
Environmentally friendly and fun
But when it comes to disposing of plastic bottles, these countries are extremely creative. In French supermarkets, for example, there are machines called "B:Bot"[1]. The elegantly designed machines, pronounced "Bibotte", take plastic bottles and immediately shred them into sparkling, recyclable mini-shreds. The highlight of this process shows why “plastic is fantastic”: the entire process takes place behind a glass pane through which the spectacle can be observed, which is particularly fascinating for children. On top of this, there is a reward for the plastic flakes handed in, which the retailer determines himself, for example in the form of vouchers or raffle tickets.
Tickets and dog food
In Rome, the "+Ricicli +Viaggi"[2] project allows used plastic bottles to be exchanged for bus and train tickets. The initiative received an award for innovation in politics from the Vienna-based organization "The Innovation in Politics Institute"[3] in 2022. The same machines can also be found in Istanbul, Türkiye, and the metropolis also has another waste disposal attraction: An Automat that does not give out a deposit voucher when plastic bottles are returned, but dry dog food, specially designed for the city's stray dogs[4].
Valuable and reusable
Finally, anyone traveling to poorer regions of the world could donate their empty plastic bottles to the locals. For example, collectors in rural parts of Mexico can hand in PET bottles to the recycling companies IMER and PLANETA for a fee. The Plastic Bank also exchanges return bottles for money or services. In Nigeria, there is even a school that accepts used plastic bottles as school fees from parents.
Deposit systems and creative return options help highlight the material value of plastic bottles and encourage proper disposal. And they are easy to recycle - either thermally into fresh energy or materially into new products. However, sustainability also starts at the beginning of their life journey: Even during production and transportation, plastic bottles save a lot of energy and emissions compared to glass containers or metal cans due to their low melting point and low weight.
[1] https://b-bot.com
[2] https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/ricicli-viaggi
[3] https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/ricicli-viaggi-the-more-you-recycle-the-more-you-travel/
[4] http://pugedon.com
Image Source: Pugedon Arge A.Ş
Image Caption: Istanbul, innovative systems do not return a normal deposit when PET bottles are returned, but food for street dogs.
How PET bottles help in emergencies
In a crisis, providing clean drinking water is a top priority. Plastic bottles are the means of choice here and provide help quickly. This is because the water in the lightweight and unbreakable plastic packaging can be transported directly to the place of use.
Plastic bottles demonstrate their value in everyday life and additionally in extreme situations: they allow people to be supplied with drinking water quickly - saving lives when supply structures have collapsed.
Ideal for mobile use
Natural disasters and conflicts dominate world events. Crises require immediate action, especially when it comes to water. Until drinking water treatment systems are installed on site, plastic bottles can be used to ease initial hardship. In addition, the hygienic and practical PET bottles are an essential element in decentralized water distribution - especially for remote areas and those that are difficult to access.
"Bottled drinking water is what makes the supply of clean, safe water possible in the first place in many regions and especially in crisis areas. In this way, drinking water can be stored, transported and made avail-able quickly when needed. PET bottles are also a suitable concept: they are lightweight, safe, unbreakable and recyclable," says Dr. Sieglinde Stähle, Scientific Director at the German Food Association. Plastic bottles are also suitable for supplying refugees who can only carry a small amount of weight with them.
The demand is high: in 2022, over 340 million people worldwide were in humanitarian need[1], 108.4 million refugees[2], there were 421 natural disasters[3] and a total of 363 conflicts[4]. Such as the war in Ukraine, which in the same year asked other countries for the delivery of drinking water and PET bottles to supply its population[5]. To prepare for emergencies, the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance advises to keep two liters of liquid per person per day[6], which corresponds to 60 liters for a 10-day supply of drinks for a three-person household - which can be easily stored in 40 lightweight and stable 1.5-liter PET bottles and quickly and safely relocated if necessary.
Social plastic alleviates poverty
While PET bottles prove to be an essential part of the supply chain in acute crises, disadvantaged regions in developing and emerging countries can also benefit from plastic. In addition to the material benefits, the low production costs of plastic bottles make them accessible to socially disadvantaged parts of the population.
Plastic waste is also being discovered as a source of recyclable materials, offering income prospects. For example, in Mexico, where a recycling company with the involvement of a packaging manufacturer accepts used PET bottles from collectors for a fee - using its own trucks, among other things, to make up for the lack of infrastructure. A project that brings together waste disposal and poverty reduction. The same approach is pursued by plasticbank[7], where collected plastic waste can be exchanged for cash, everyday goods or services such as internet access and cell phone charging.
Drinking water is essential. According to the UN World Water Report 2022, 2.2 billion people do not have a direct supply of safe drinking water[8]. And UNICEF states: In conflicts and crises, children are twice as likely to lack access to water[9]. Plastic bottles can make an important contribution here.
[1] https://www.rescue.org/de/artikel/die-zehn-schlimmsten-humanitaeren-krisen-2023
[2] https://www.uno-fluechtlingshilfe.de/informieren/fluechtlingszahlen
[3] https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/anzahl-der-weltweiten-naturkatastrophen/
[4] https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/entwicklung-der-anzahl-von-konflikten-weltweit/
[5] https://brauer-bund.de/pressemitteilungen/ukraine-bittet-um-trinkwasser-und-pet-flaschen/
[6] https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Vorsorge/Bevorraten/bevorraten_node.html
[7] https://plasticbank.com/
[8] https://www.unesco.de/kultur-und-natur/wasser-und-ozeane/weltwasserbericht-2022-grundwasser
[9] https://www.unicef.de/informieren/aktuelles/weltwassertag-2023-zehn-fakten-ueber-wasser/
Image Source: ALPLA
Image Caption: Conflicts, natural disasters and displacement bring humanitarian hardship to people. “Bottled drinking water is what makes the supply of clean, safe water possible in the first place in many regions and especially in crisis areas,” says Dr. Sieglinde Stähle, Scientific Director at the German Food Association.
About rivers and fishing boats
A lot of garbage is floating in our oceans. 75 percent of it is made of plastic and has two causes: rivers, 10 of them to be precise, carry plastic waste from the land into the oceans - a finding that can be used to develop targeted countermeasures. The majority of the plastic, on the other hand, originates from lost fishing gear from commercial fishing, which has so far barely entered the public consciousness. It is also much more difficult to take action here.
Professional fishing - the main source of plastic waste
Fishermen also appreciate the positive properties of plastic, especially the ease of handling and the greater durability and reliability compared to natural materials. Around 4.6 million boats go fishing in the oceans every day. This also leads to material losses: The WWF estimates that 40 % - 50 %[1] of plastic waste comes from lost fishing gear alone - ropes, lines, buoys, baskets, buckets, fishing lines and nets. Over 1 million tons are added every year.
The phenomenon was discovered during investigations into the world's largest garbage patch in the North Pacific between Hawaii and California - the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). The surprising result: the majority of the plastic waste, around 70%, was actually fishing equipment, 46% of which was ghost nets, weighing around 705,000 tons[2].
Current studies not only confirm the findings but also increase the figures: according to an analysis by the environmental initiative “The Ocean Cleanup”[3], known as the marine debris catcher, between 75 and 86 percent of plastic waste in the GPGP comes from deep-sea fishing.
How can this happen? Equipment goes overboard during fishing operations, storms or accidents. Set nets and trawls also break off and drift through the oceans abandoned as “ghost nets” or get caught on the bottom, on rocks, reefs or wrecks.
Recovering ghost nets is time-consuming, as they first need to be tracked down; sonar has recently been used for this purpose, and there are also plans to equip nets with GPS trackers. Lifting them is manual work, the nets are often stuck and need to be painstakingly freed. Their robust material mix requires intensive recycling. Countries, research institutions, environmental organizations and fishing companies are now aware of the importance of the issue and are already initiating countermeasures.
Rivers are effective transportation routes - also for waste
The second reason for plastic waste ending up in the oceans can also be precisely identified: Studies show that the global supply of waste from land to the oceans can be narrowed down to the 10 largest waterways from Asia and Africa. These alone flush around 12 million tons of plastic into the maritime waters every year. The Yangtze River leads the way, followed by the Indus, Huangho, Nile, Ganges, Niger and Mekong. A consequence of the rapid economic growth in these regions, the development of waste disposal has still not been able to keep pace with this dynamic.
In the meantime, active investments are being made here - for the expansion of orderly disposal and effective recycling of waste. For example, its incineration for energy generation in appropriately equipped power plants. This is a way of dealing with waste, which also improves marine pollution.
Another approach also promises to help: as the global transfer of waste to water is mainly concentrated in the aforementioned 10 rivers, this opens up the possibility of taking local measures to combat it. As “The Ocean Cleanup” is already doing here: the organization has developed a new interceptor system for use in rivers. The “Ocean Cleanup Interceptor”, a solar-powered, 24-metre-long boat with a screening device and container, is designed to filter up to 50 million tons of waste per day from flowing waters - before it reaches the oceans. A commitment that could set a precedent.
What's the matter:
A study by ocean experts led by Dr. Britta Denise Hardesty, head of research at the Australian scientific institution CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, has brought clear facts to light. For this purpose, 451 fishing companies in 7 countries were surveyed[4]:
Over 2% of all fishing gear is lost every year.
There are now 25 million fish traps (fishing cages) and 14 billion baited hooks in the oceans.
In addition:
2,963 square kilometers of gillnets - larger in area than the German Saarland (2,570 square kilometers),
75,049 square kilometers of ring wall nets - more than the largest German federal state, Bavaria (70,550 square kilometers),
218 square kilometers of trawl nets - the equivalent of around 30,000 soccer pitches,
739,538 kilometers of longlines and mainlines - enough to wrap around the world 17 times - and 11.5 million branch lines.
What is done:
Measures to prevent plastic waste from fishing gear:
The “International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships”, known as MARPOL, prohibits the discharge of pollutants into the sea.
The EU Fisheries Control Regulation prohibits the dumping of fishing gear at sea. Lost nets must be reported to the authorities.
With the “Marelitt Baltic” project, fishing communities, research institutes & environmental associations from Sweden, Estonia, Poland & Germany are investigating how plastic nets can be recovered & recycled. Organizations and projects such as “AegeanRebreath”, “GhostNets Australia”, “Ghost Diving” and “Healthy Seas” are committed to the recovery, disposal and recycling of ghost nets.
[1] Veröffentlichung WWF Themen & Projekte Geisternetze 17.08.2018
[2] Scientific Reports: Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic 2018, L. Lebreton
[3] Study „The Ocean Cleanup“ (Müllsammler System 001/B 2019), „Der Spiegel“ 05.09.2022
[4] Veröffentlichung Science Advances, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Publikation „GEO“ 14.10.2022
Image Source: ALPLA
Image Caption: Plastic also has a firm place in commercial fishing: it is superior to other materials in terms of weight, handling and durability.
Plastic in space
Space, the final frontier… and impossible to fathom without plastic, say experts. As controversial as the material is discussed on Earth, it is indispensable for journeys into the universe - whether for the meals of astronauts or in the construction of satellites and rockets.
Our relationship with plastic is ambivalent. We use plastic every day, but hardly appreciate it. Such as PET bottles: they are practical to use, but are usually seen as mere disposable products - and annoying when they turn up as waste. In order to recognize the true significance of something, it is often worth looking beyond the horizon - in the case of plastic, even to the stars. The reason: “Without plastic, nothing works in space travel,” says Alexander Ihle, Structural Engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA) and responsible for Earth observation missions.
How plastic is conquering space
It may sound unusual at first, but what already characterizes plastic packaging on earth is also being used by the space industry - it is increasingly relying on the characteristic combination of lightness and stability. This applies both to the construction of spaceships and to the meals of space travelers. Their food is freeze-dried and dehydrated in plastic bags with a straw attached.
And just like here on Earth, the plastic packaging provides protection and preservation for a wide range of food and drinks in space. “You only have to look at what the first astronauts had at their disposal and what they now get in terms of food on the ISS space station. Neil Armstrong would probably never have dreamed that such a range would be possible. Plastic plays a very important role here,” says Hendrik Weihs, engineer and head of the Space Department at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
Stability and efficiency in space
However, plastic packaging is not only indispensable for feeding astronauts; the material is also playing an increasingly important role in the construction of rockets. “It starts with adhesives,” explains ESA structural engineer Alexander Ihle, ”and continues with plastic films. These are needed in space systems as sun protection, for example.” This also applies to the construction of special elements, as Alexander Ihle explains: “We use fiber-reinforced plastics to manufacture components that are both lightweight and durable, as well as having a high temperature resistance.”
Nicole Thalhofer, Head of Space Travel at the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), emphasizes: “The use of plastics and synthetic materials in space has significantly increased the efficiency of space missions.” She cites an example: “ArianeGroup is currently working on ICARUS, an innovative rocket upper stage made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).” She also points out other areas of application: “Plastics can be found not only in structural components, but also in purely functional components such as insulation and seals.”
Future material for the cosmos and earth
High-performance plastics, which are additionally equipped with thermal protection systems for the return from space, are therefore playing an increasingly important role in rocket construction alongside metal. And, of course, they are also a sign of sustainability. DLR department head Hendrik Weihs: “We are seeing that the classic rocket is slowly making its way towards a reusable space transportation system.”
BDLI space specialist Nicole Thalhofer: “The developments in the field of plastics in space travel also have important implications for applications on Earth. In the case of CARUS, ArianeGroup is researching how to develop and build CFRP tanks for cryogenic liquids with temperatures as low as minus 250 degrees Celsius.” This would be relevant for the transportation and storage of hydrogen, for example.
Recyclable spaceships from the 3D printer
“In my department, we are currently looking at bio-based materials,” explains Hendrik Weihs from DLR and says: ”A lot is also possible with plastics. You always have to look at the overall scenario, whether for rockets or satellites.”
Alexander Ihle adds: “The trend in space travel is clearly moving towards fiber-reinforced plastics. The material has numerous advantages and you can do a lot with it. And it can also be used in an environmentally friendly way. I think the example of the PET bottle is a good one here.” This is aimed at the recycling property. After all, the use of plastics in space travel is also characterized by sustainability and the circular economy. As PET bottles show - they are highly recyclable, even 100 percent in the bottle-to-bottle process.
It is possible that the recyclable and bio-based plastic rockets of the future will come entirely from 3D printers. Inflatable space habitats made from plastic fibers are already being tested today[1]. Eventually, space habitats will also be built from recycled plastic bottles. Innovations in the field of plastic packaging could certainly serve as a source of inspiration here. We don't know whether the most famous Vulcan in film history would have said “Plastic is fantastic”, but his “fascinating” certainly rings a bell.
[1] https://www.sierraspace.com/commercial-space-stations/life-space-habitat/
Image Source: ESA/NASA - T. Pesquet
Image Caption: Eating and drinking in the stars: The astronauts' food is provided in special plastic packaging that protects it from space conditions, prevents crumbs from escaping and enables it to be prepared safely.
