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Assessing the Carbon Footprint of Plastics: From Polymer Synthesis to Environmental Pollution
Summary
This review traces the carbon footprint of plastics across their full lifecycle — from petrochemical polymer synthesis through transport, use, and disposal — demonstrating that fossil fuel dependence at every stage makes plastics a substantial driver of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. The analysis underscores the need for sustainable material alternatives and improved waste management to break the link between modern consumption and plastic-driven climate harm.
Throughout their existence, plastics, which are now omnipresent in contemporary life, have been a substantial contributor to the destruction of the environment and the release of carbon. This article aims to investigate the carbon footprint of plastics, beginning with their foundation in polymers derived from petrochemicals and ending with their disposal as pollutants. The manufacturing of plastics requires a significant amount of energy. It depends on fossil fuels, which emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In addition, the environmental effect of plastics is further exacerbated by their lifespan, which includes shipping, consumption, and disposal of the material. This article highlights the urgent need for sustainable alternatives and better waste management techniques to offset plastic pollution's mounting environmental difficulties and carbon emissions.