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Plastics

Plastic Recycling: only 15% finds its way into a landfill

Biodegradable food containers, biodegradable water bottles, biodegradable cups, biodegradable plastic bags – environmentally friendly plastics are rapidly emerging as we learn and see more success in product development and polymer science advancements.

Why is plastic so popular? Plastic materials display properties that are unique compared to other materials, and perform functions at a cost that other materials cannot match. Commercially available since 1909, plastics are now the most used material in our society.

Monomers, polymers and copolymers are the most frequently used terms to describe plastics. Think about a monomer as one red brick: if you cement more bricks in a row you have a polymer; if you cement some blue bricks on the sides, you have a copolymer.

Copolymers change the physical capabilities of polymers – making them structurally stronger, more flexible, durable, stiffer, etc. So, two different monomers are combined in a chemical reaction to produce a copolymer.

Thermoplastic and Thermosets are two terms typically used to describe plastic materials.  Thermosets are like concrete; you only get one chance to shape them and they are very rigid. Thermoplastics are like a “wax;” you can melt them again and again. Their properties will be diminished after too many melts (as in recycling), due to degradation.

Discarded plastics can remain in our ecosystem for 800+ years. But not if you use Casey Container products! We manufacture biodegradable plastics to make the Earth a cleaner, less littered place.

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