Print version record.

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Preface; Introduction; Chapter 1: Some Notes on Two Controversies around Plastic Materials and their Media Coverage; 1.1. Introduction; 1.2. Socio-political aspects of the two controversies in the scientific literature; 1.3. Plastics in the French media: a small sample; 1.3.1. The written press: endocrine disruption; 1.3.2. Plastics in general; 1.3.3. An analysis of two television documentaries; 1.3.3.1. Endocrine disruptors; 1.3.3.2. The fate of waste; 1.4. Conclusion; 1.5. Appendix: equations of research to identify the "plastic" corpus.

1.6. BibliographyChapter 2: Plastic Waste and the Environment; 2.1. Introduction: waste and the environment; 2.2. The end of life of plastic parts; 2.2.1. Reduction at source; 2.2.2. Hierarchy of choice of valorization; 2.2.3. Inventory; 2.2.4. Specific difficulties with the physical recycling of plastics; 2.2.5. The recycling chain; 2.2.6. Physical recycling in solution; 2.2.7. The use of recycled materials; 2.2.8. Chemical recycling; 2.2.9. Energetic valorization; 2.2.10. Landfilling; 2.3. Conclusion; 2.4. Bibliography; Chapter 3: Polymers and Marine Litter; 3.1. Introduction.

3.2. The cycle of litter at sea3.2.1. Methods; 3.2.2. Nature and quantity of litter reaching the sea; 3.2.3. Sources; 3.2.4. Fate and distribution; 3.2.5. Oceanic convergence zone; 3.3. The degradation of litter at sea; 3.4. The effect of marine litter on the environment; 3.5. Socio-economic aspects; 3.5.1. Legal aspects (laws, conventions and directives); 3.5.2. Initiatives; 3.5.3. Understanding and educating; 3.6. Conclusion; 3.7. Acknowledgment; 3.8. Bibliography; Chapter 4: Between Prejudice and Realities: How Plastics Are Essential for the Future.

4.1. From a gloomy picture to a solution for the future4.1.1. An antiplastic crisis with often paradoxical consequences; 4.1.2. The world as it is ... 2030; 4.1.3. Vital qualities of plastics; 4.1.3.1. Participation to the development of food resources; 4.1.3.2. Conserving water resources and creating more; 4.1.3.3. Reducing energy needs; 4.1.3.4. Decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases; 4.2. Engineering polymers: what is wonderful, what is reassuring?; 4.2.1. Plastics and their ignored positives effects on the preservation of the environment.

4.2.2. Lightweight plastic, a quality that induces environmental performance4.2.3. When plastics protect us ... ; 4.2.4. How plastics will prevail in the future energy solution?; 4.2.5. Plastics at the heart of technological advancement; 4.3. Plastic industries: progress to be made; 4.3.1. Environmental issues, the European plastics industrial acts; 4.3.2. From polluting plastics to non-disposable plastics; 4.3.3. Recycling and valorization: the French cultural handicap; 4.3.4. Bisphenol A or how to spread anxiety and misinformation; 4.3.5. Bioplastics: from advertising to reality.

This text addresses the common negative perception of polymer materials on the environment with a thorough analysis of what really occurs when industry and academia collaborate to find environmental solutions. The book examines the environmental and social effects of polymer materials and explains methods of quantifying environmental performance. With an emphasis on the importance of education, the authors stress the importance of awareness and activity in negating polymers'' environmental impact.

Includes bibliographical references and index.