Page 105 - Final Magazine 2019-2020.cdr

Environmental Degradation: Plastic V/s. Paper

Ms, Dipali Paresh Mali, Sonepant Dandekar College, Palghar

Winner of the 1st Prize at the
12th Dharam S. Hinduja Inter-College Essay Writing Competition for Lecturers

After comparing and contrasting plastic and paper, I realize that both the
materials degrade the environment. Although recycling can be done for
both materials, recycling has challenges.

The term 'plastic' refers to the property of plasticity, the ability to deform
without breaking. It's important to know that plastics are simply polymers,
long chains of atoms 'arranged' in repeating units often much longer than
those found in nature. According to the Science History Institute, the 'length
of these chains, and the patterns in which they are arranged, are what
make polymers strong, light-weight, and exible. In other words, it's what
makes them so plastic. Approximately a third of the plastic that is produced
is used for packaging. Another third is used for siding and for piping.

Paper is a thin material produced by pressing together moist bers of cellulose pulp derived from
wood, rags or grasses and drying them into exible sheets. It is used for writing, printing,
packaging, cleaning, decorating and a number of industrial and construction processes.

There is always a comparison between paper and plastic and which causes greater environmental
degradation. When you do get to choose between paper and plastic consider that both materials
have pros and cons for the environment.

Environmental Disadvantages of Paper over Plastic

Paper production emits air pollution, specically 70 percent more pollution than the production of
plastic bags. According to certain studies, manufacturing paper emits 80 percent more
greenhouse gases. Unlike plastic bags which are also produced from the waste products of oil
rening, paper requires forests to be cut down. Paper bags also weigh more than plastic; this
means transportation is more costly. The process of recycling paper consumes more fuel than it
would take to manufacture new paper. In addition, it takes about 91 percent more energy to

recycle a pound of paper than a pound of plastic. According to some measures, paper bags
generate 80 percent more solid waste. In a dry landll, paper bags don't degrade any faster than
plastic bags. In a normal, well-run landll, paper bags do not biodegrade any faster over at least
40 years than plastic.

Plastic is durable, low cost, water resistant and largely reusable. Littered plastic bags are to be
seen everywhere - blowing around streets, stuck in fences and trees, choking drains and what

“ What we possess is temporary, but what
we become is permanent.” (Devdutt Pattanaik) 94
2019-20