Uploaded April 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Video by: Samuel Byers, Will Carbaugh, Claire Trevisan, and Megan Brown
Plastic bags, specifically low density polyethylene plastic bags, pose a serious material challenge to our modern society. With modern culture being obsessive over high-speed and constant consumption, the packaging of our products is becoming amply more important. Low density polyethylene plastic bags are most commonly seen in distribution environments. These bags are a popular product for transporting goods because they are strong, cheap, and resource-efficient to produce. However, in this investigation, we will be looking into the environmental impacts of low density polyethylene use in single-use plastic bags as well as the recyclability of said bags. To do this, we will explore the actual production process of the plastic bags, how their manufacturing affects their properties, and how effective recycling low density polyethylene is. In this, a simplistic life cycle analysis of plastic bags will be conducted. Based on these results, a comparison to possible alternatives to plastic bags such as reusable bags and biodegradable bags will also be executed. Thus, the scope of this video is to explore the structure and manufacturing of low density polyethylene bags, the impact they have on the environment and why, and possible alternatives and solutions to the rising issue of post-consumption waste from these bags.
References:
•environmentmassachusetts.org/sites/environment/files/reports/Bag%20Ban%20Fact%20Sheet%20_0.pdf
•heartland.org/sites/default/files/threetypeofgrocerybags.pdf
•Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering: A Guided Inquiry - by Elliot P. Douglas
•plasticgarbageproject.org/en/plastic-garbage/problems/plastic-production
•britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/468698/major-industrial-polymers/76435/Polyethylene-PE#ref608622
•polybags.com/resources/how-polyethylene-bags-are-made
•wisegeek.com/what-is-polyethylene-resin.htm
•plastics.americanchemistry.com/Education-Resources/Plastics-101/How-Plastics-Are-Made.html
•plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1400&navItemNumber=1128
•richmondplastics.com/manufacturing.html
•news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags.html
•epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/2012_msw_dat_tbls.pdf
•ecolife.com/recycling/plastic/how-to-recycle-ldpe-plastic-4.html
•litteritcostsyou.org/process-of-plastic-bag-recycling-from-start-to-finish
•cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/plastic_bags/national
Video by: Samuel Byers, Will Carbaugh, Claire Trevisan, and Megan Brown
Plastic bags, specifically low density polyethylene plastic bags, pose a serious material challenge to our modern society. With modern culture being obsessive over high-speed and constant consumption, the packaging of our products is becoming amply more important. Low density polyethylene plastic bags are most commonly seen in distribution environments. These bags are a popular product for transporting goods because they are strong, cheap, and resource-efficient to produce. However, in this investigation, we will be looking into the environmental impacts of low density polyethylene use in single-use plastic bags as well as the recyclability of said bags. To do this, we will explore the actual production process of the plastic bags, how their manufacturing affects their properties, and how effective recycling low density polyethylene is. In this, a simplistic life cycle analysis of plastic bags will be conducted. Based on these results, a comparison to possible alternatives to plastic bags such as reusable bags and biodegradable bags will also be executed. Thus, the scope of this video is to explore the structure and manufacturing of low density polyethylene bags, the impact they have on the environment and why, and possible alternatives and solutions to the rising issue of post-consumption waste from these bags.
References:
•environmentmassachusetts.org/sites/environment/files/reports/Bag%20Ban%20Fact%20Sheet%20_0.pdf
•heartland.org/sites/default/files/threetypeofgrocerybags.pdf
•Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering: A Guided Inquiry - by Elliot P. Douglas
•plasticgarbageproject.org/en/plastic-garbage/problems/plastic-production
•britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/468698/major-industrial-polymers/76435/Polyethylene-PE#ref608622
•polybags.com/resources/how-polyethylene-bags-are-made
•wisegeek.com/what-is-polyethylene-resin.htm
•plastics.americanchemistry.com/Education-Resources/Plastics-101/How-Plastics-Are-Made.html
•plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1400&navItemNumber=1128
•richmondplastics.com/manufacturing.html
•news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags.html
•epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/2012_msw_dat_tbls.pdf
•ecolife.com/recycling/plastic/how-to-recycle-ldpe-plastic-4.html
•litteritcostsyou.org/process-of-plastic-bag-recycling-from-start-to-finish
•cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/plastic_bags/national
