How many fleeces could be made from the plastic bottles wasted in the United Kingdom?

Authors

  • Sophie WILLETT University of Leicester

Keywords:

Chemistry, Environment, Plastic recycling, Chemical decomposition, Mechanical decomposition

Abstract

This paper explains and evaluates the process of upcycling PET plastic bottles into fleeces. The ability to do so in the UK would reduce the pressure on landfills and environmental pollution. It was estimated that if the 5.59x109 wasted plastic bottles were upcycled, the UK would be able to produce approximately 2.2x108 fleeces each year. This is enough to give every member of the population 3 fleeces. The paper however recognises that the fleeces themselves are not completely sustainable and could have an impact on the environment once made and worn.

References

Agrawal, Y., Kapoor, R., Malik, T. & Raghuwansh, V. (2015) Recycling of Plastic Bottles into Yarn & Fabric. Institute of technology and science. Textile Value Chain. Available at: http://www.textilevaluechain.com/index.php/article/technical/item/247-recycling-of-plastic-bottles-into-yarn-fabric [Accessed 6th March 2018]

Brown, T.L., LeMay,H.E.Jr., Bursten, B.E., Murphy, C. & Woodward, P. (2012) Chemistry: The Central Science. Pearson Publishing, United States of America, 12th Edition, pg. 493.

O’Driscoll, J. (2015) How PET plastic bottles are spun into cozy polar fleece. Alternative Journal. Available at: http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/science-and-solutions/pop-couture-how-pet-plastic-bottles-are-spun-polar-fleece [Accessed 7th March 2018]

House of Commons (2017) Plastic bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide. HC 339. First report of Session 2017-19. House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Report, pg. 5. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/339/339.pdf [Accessed 7th March 2018]

worldometers (2018) U.K Population (live). Worldometers.info. Available at: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/uk-population/ [Accessed 7th March 2018]

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018) Rough Sleeping Statistics Autumn 2017, England (Revised), pg. 1. Gov.uk. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2017 [Accessed 7th March 2018]

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Published

23.04.2018

How to Cite

WILLETT, S. (2018). How many fleeces could be made from the plastic bottles wasted in the United Kingdom?. Journal of Interdisciplinary Science Topics, 7. Retrieved from https://journals.le.ac.uk/index.php/jist/article/view/2706

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Section

Articles