Plastic
Plastic materials are widely used in everyday life and their presence is found in fabrics, electronics, hygiene products and packaging. Synthetic plastics are made up of artificial or semi-artificial organic compounds. The properties of mechanical strength, flexibility and durability have made plastics an indispensable material for society. However, they pose several environmental problems:Their transfer to the landfill determines the exhaustion of the same with a consequent increase in disposal costs;Their incineration produces toxic substances and greenhouse gases that contribute to pollution and climate change;The plastic accumulates in the oceans, and the products they generate by fragmentation (microplastics) have been found in many parts of the planet where they have contaminated the food web;Plastics also take hundreds of years to biodegrade, remaining very long in the environment.