International aid organizations emphasize that the first days after a disaster determine the fate of the affected communities. Relief teams, such as those from World Vision, are often on site within 72 hours to provide essential supplies like tarpaulins, water, and medical care[3].

In Crisis Situations: Operational Thanks to Plastic

When homes are destroyed, plastic tarpaulins made from PE film – known as “plastic sheeting” – protect people from rain, sun, and cold. They can be stored efficiently and set up within a very short time. The practice of distributing two rectangular sheets per family is anchored in the “Sphere Minimum Standards,” an internationally recognized guideline for humanitarian aid by the Sphere Association, a network of leading aid organizations[4].

Drinking water supply also relies heavily on plastic: bottles, canisters, tanks, and transport containers made of plastic are lightweight, shatterproof, and easy to stack. UNICEF delivers emergency WASH kits – including drinking water and hygiene equipment – in over 60 countries worldwide within 72 hours[5]. Without plastic, fast, clean, and mobile aid would be virtually impossible. 

Medical Care: Mobility and Hygiene

Medical products made of plastic are also indispensable in crisis areas. Syringes, infusion bags, sterile packaging, and diagnostic containers enable rapid, hygienic, and safe treatment – even where infrastructure has collapsed. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders use standardized emergency kits that consist largely of plastic, precisely because of these properties: lightweight, sterile, and ready for immediate use[6]. Lightweight packaging enables fast air transport, disposable items reduce infection risks, and hygiene can be maintained with plastic even in destroyed, highly contaminated environments.

Plastic: A Vital Resource in Times of Crisis

Plastic is more than an everyday material: it ensures efficiency, protection, and operational capability. Emergency shelters, drinking water, medical care, and high-tech drones – without polymer materials, fast, hygienic, and flexible aid solutions would not be feasible. Plastic combines lightness, durability, and versatility. In doing so, it ensures the functionality of critical systems and the protection of people under the harshest conditions.

[1] https://www.zdfheute.de/panorama/
[2] https://www.mbi-geodata.com/en/2025/12/18/
[3] https://www.worldvision.ch/kindern-helfen/nothilfe
[4] https://spherestandards.org/handbook/
[5] https://www.unicef.org/wash/emergencies
[6] https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Image Source: Plastic is Fantastic Association

Image Caption: Material that saves lives: plastic enables rapid aid in disasters and crises.