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Today, packaging accounts for nearly half of all plastic waste generated globally. Packaging is not only the largest category of end-use for plastic, but also the most wasteful one. It was estimated by Greenpeace International that of the total of 448 million tons of plastic produced in 2015, 161 million was utilized in the packaging market and was discarded within less than 6 months after purchase. For comparison, an average life-span of plastic materials utilized in building and construction – the second largest category – was 35 years. In this lecture we will explore the history of plastic packaging and the main historical forces that have instilled plastic into our daily routines. Such knowledge is essential for generating future solutions for the current plastic waste crisis.
It would be useful if you could watch this video before the lecture starts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXRtNwUju5g
Speaker: Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka
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