How green is polythene?

~ Greencard for: polythene ~
	Weight:	1	Kg
	Lifespan:	3	Years
	Enegy to make:	2.8	Kwh
	Energy use:	0	Kwh per year
	Co2 footprint	5.2	Kg
	Chemical footprint:		Medium
	Waste footprint:	96	%
	Carbon offset:	1.4	Trees

What goes into polythene

Polythene, polymers of ethylene also know as polyethylene is a product derived directly from oil and as such is not sustainable. Production is energy intensive and involves the use of many toxic chemicals. Huge quantities are produced as it is a useful material, found in products like plastic bags, food packaging, product wrapping and many other things.

Chemical contamination

plastics manufacturing involves highly toxic substances that require careful storage, handling, and disposal. The polymerisation process gives off toxic fumes, recent legislation requires factories to scrub these chemicals before vapour are emitted to the environment.

Factoids [2]

Complete combustion of polythene with an excess of oxygen yields only carbon dioxide and water plus the heat of combustion. Incomplete combustion produces smoke, soot, carbon monoxide and various oxidation products as well as CO2 and H2O

Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags per year and only 1% are recycled.

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