Whether used to store leftovers, keep hospital equipment sterile, or insulate a home, plastics are unmatched for their adaptability, durability, and low cost. Given their seemingly boundless benefits, it is unsurprising that plastics have replaced traditional materials in many sectors – for example, steel in cars, paper and glass in packaging, and wood in furniture.
纽瓦克，新泽西—塑料在生活中随处可见。不管是被用于盛装废物、保持医院设备无菌状态，还是用于房屋隔热，塑料都以其可塑性、耐久性和低成本拥有无可比拟的优势。塑料的好处无穷尽，因此毫不奇怪，它取代诸多部门的传统材料——比如用于汽车的钢材、用于包装的纸材和玻璃、用于家具的木头等。结果，全世界塑料的年消费量从20世纪50年代的500万吨增加到今天的2.8亿吨。