Author: Carolyn Fortuna
Since plastics were invented in 1835, they have played an indispensable role in our society due to their low cost, good formability, strength, durability, and lightweight. The cost effective production and versatility of plastics make them critical materials for numerous applications such as packaging, construction, auto parts, electronics, and school supplies. However, plastics can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material’s structure and environmental factors such as sunlight exposure.