{"id":15847,"date":"2026-09-17T14:57:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T11:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/earthbound.gr\/?page_id=15847"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:25:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T07:25:55","slug":"plastic-101","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/earthbound.gr\/en\/plastic-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\n ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n Plastic, explained simply. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n Plastic is not one single material. It is a family of materials with different properties, different uses and different roles in everyday life.\n
\nUnderstanding what plastic is \u2014 and why we use it \u2014 is the first step towards understanding how it can be used better. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\n PLASTIC 101 <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n One name. Many different materials. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n Plastic is made from polymers, but not all plastics are the same.\n\nSome are lightweight and flexible. Others are strong and rigid. Some are transparent, food-safe or resistant to moisture. Others can withstand impact, insulate electrical components or perform in demanding industrial environments.\n\nThat is why different plastics are used for different purposes.\n <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\n Why Do We Use Plastic? <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n Plastic is not used simply because it is convenient. It is used because different applications need different combinations of protection, weight, safety, durability and cost. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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It protects<\/title><\/path><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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It protects<\/h5>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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Plastic can help protect food, medicine and everyday products from contamination, moisture, damage and breakage. In packaging, that can also help extend shelf life and reduce product waste.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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It makes things lighter<\/title><\/path><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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It makes things lighter<\/h5>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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Its low weight can make products easier and more efficient to transport, reducing the amount of material and energy needed to move them<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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It makes essential products more accessible<\/title><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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It makes essential products more accessible<\/h5>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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Plastic can offer an affordable way to protect, store and distribute products at scale. In places where safe drinking water is not readily available, for example, lightweight plastic bottles can make water easier to transport and distribute than many heavier, breakable alternatives.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\n Different plastics. Different jobs. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n The word \u201cplastic\u201d covers many different materials. Each has its own properties and is better suited to particular applications.\n <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n \n (01)<\/span>\n \n
PET<\/h6>\n \n\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Lightweight, strong and transparent. Commonly used for beverage bottles, food packaging and other applications where clarity and barrier properties matter.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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HDPE<\/h6>\n \n\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Strong, durable and resistant to moisture and chemicals. Often used for bottles, household products and industrial applications.\n<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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PP<\/h6>\n \n\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Lightweight, durable and resistant to heat. Used in packaging, food containers, automotive components and many everyday products.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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LDPE<\/h6>\n \n\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Flexible and lightweight. Common in films, bags and flexible packaging.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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PVC<\/h6>\n \n\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Durable and versatile. Used in construction, medical applications, cables and other long-life products.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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PS<\/h6>\n \n\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Rigid or foamed, depending on the application. Used in packaging, insulation and selected consumer products.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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PS<\/h6>\n \n\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Rigid or foamed, depending on the application. Used in packaging, insulation and selected consumer products.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\n Plastic has value before, during and after use. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n US$80\u2013120 billion\n <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\n in material value is estimated to be lost each year when plastic packaging is landfilled, incinerated or leaked instead of being effectively recycled.\n
Its value does not end when a product becomes empty.\n\nWhen plastic is properly designed, collected, sorted and recycled, it can become raw material again. When it is lost from the system, that material value is lost too.\n <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\n EXPLORE MORE <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Myths & Misconceptions<\/h6>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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Plastic is surrounded by assumptions.\nIs all plastic bad for the environment?\nDoes recycling really work?\nAre reusable alternatives always better?\nSome questions have simple answers. Others need a little more context.\n
\n\nExplore common myths and the facts behind them.\n<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n READ MORE<\/span>READ MORE<\/span><\/span> <\/span>\n \n <\/i> <\/span>\n \n <\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Facts & Figures<\/h6>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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A few numbers put the conversation into perspective.\n\n36%\nof plastics produced globally are used in packaging.\n\n42.1%\nof plastic packaging waste generated in the EU was recycled in 2023.\n\n3.4%\nof global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to plastics, according to the OECD.\n\n\n
\n\nExplore more facts and figures\n<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n READ MORE<\/span>READ MORE<\/span><\/span> <\/span>\n \n <\/i> <\/span>\n \n <\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Glossary<\/h6>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
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The language of plastic, made clearer.\n\nPolymer. Recyclable. Recycled content. Biobased. Biodegradable. Compostable. Microplastics. Circularity.\n\nThese terms are often used interchangeably \u2014 but they do not mean the same thing.\n\n
\n\n\nExplore the Plastic Glossary\n<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n READ MORE<\/span>READ MORE<\/span><\/span> <\/span>\n \n <\/i> <\/span>\n \n <\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Plastic, explained simply. Plastic is not one single material. It is a family of materials…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15847","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlastic 101 - Earthbound<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/earthbound.gr\/en\/plastic-101\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Plastic 101 - Earthbound\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Plastic, explained simply. Plastic is not one single material. 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