Plastic Resins

Unfortunately, much of the deadly pollution assaulting the Earth is a direct result of the manufacture of materials found in almost all everyday goods — some of those include plastic resins and fibers.

Plastics use has been proliferating since the 1950s because the materials are lightweight, durable, and can be formed to accommodate users’ needs. Today, approximately 500 U.S. companies with combined domestic annual revenues of $65 billion are involved in the manufacture of plastic resins and synthetic fibers. The U.S. produces approximately 100 billion pounds of resins per year, including 30 billion pounds of polyethylenes.

Plastics are widespread in packaging, furniture, appliances, automobiles, buildings, medical equipment, toys, and a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. Advances in barriers, colors, and resins are creating additional uses for plastics. New patents are regularly granted for plastic polymers and uses.

Twenty-six percent of virgin plastic resin sold is used to produce packaging, including one time use bottles and containers.

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