Re-envisioning Plastics Role in the Global Society: Perspectives on Food, Urbanization, and Environment

Preface
Contents
Chapter 1: Global Society and Sustainable Development
	1.1 Shift to a Global Society
	1.2 Global Sustainable Development Goals
	1.3 Innovations Driving Sustainable Global Society
	1.4 The Global Plastic Challenge
	References
Chapter 2: A History of Plastics
	2.1 Modern Human and Plastics
	2.2 Plastics and Plastic-Like Materials in Nature
	2.3 Development of Modern Plastics
	2.4 Historical Development and Description of Some Plastic Processing Techniques
		2.4.1 Extrusion
		2.4.2 Blow Molding
	2.5 Injection Molding
	2.6 Rotational Molding
	2.7 Thermoforming
	2.8 Fiber Spinning
	2.9 Plastics and the Environment
	2.10 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 3: Plastics, Food Security, and Sustainable Urbanization
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 Growing More Food and Trees in Smaller Spaces
		3.2.1 Food Security Through Urban Gardens
			3.2.1.1 Transferable Food Asset
			3.2.1.2 An Alternative to Address the Impact of Wars and Conflict
			3.2.1.3 Improved Crop Yield and Water Retention in Containers
			3.2.1.4 Moving Crops During Pest Invasion
			3.2.1.5 Integrating Food Growing in Unconventional Places
		3.2.2 Preserving Future Forests
			3.2.2.1 Preserving Trees Using Bonsai Practice
			3.2.2.2 Integrating Planted Forests into Urban Areas
		3.2.3 How Much Food Can Be Grown in Plastic Containers?
		3.2.4 Root Restriction for Improved Yield and Controlled Urban Greening
		3.2.5 Green Walls and Vertical Planting
	3.3 Improving Access to Nature for Urban Residents
	3.4 Supporting Biodiversity
	3.5 Plastics in Soil
		3.5.1 Plastic as Soil Stabilizers for Construction
		3.5.2 Plastics in Agricultural Soil
	3.6 Plastic Mulching and Advanced Irrigation Systems
	3.7 Plastics in Food Storage and Preservation
		3.7.1 Polypropylene Sacks
		3.7.2 Polypropylene Sacks with Improved Pest Protection
		3.7.3 Flexible Intermediate Bulk Bags
	3.8 Malaria Prevention and Pest Management
	3.9 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 4: Plastic in Water Safety Management, Distribution, and Conservation
	4.1 Water Desalination Membranes
	4.2 Artificial Floating Islands
	4.3 Artificial Ponds
	4.4 Role of Plastics in Water Conservation in Agriculture
		4.4.1 Run-Offs into Water Bodies
		4.4.2 Plastics in Agricultural Mulch
	4.5 Water Storage Tanks
	4.6 Rain Water Harvesting
	4.7 Plastic Water Pipes and Modern-Day Water Systems
	4.8 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 5: Plastic as Fuel of the Future
	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Landfill Gas Capturing Prospects for Bioplastics
	5.3 Plastic Incineration for Energy Recovery
	5.4 Chemical Recycling of Plastics
	5.5 Purification/Dissolution
	5.6 Depolymerization
		5.6.1 Glycolysis
		5.6.2 Solvothermal Liquefaction
		5.6.3 Chemical and Biological Depolymerization Combined
		5.6.4 Hydrothermal Processing
	5.7 Conversion or Thermal Cracking
		5.7.1 Pyrolysis
		5.7.2 Gasification
		5.7.3 Low-Temperature Cracking Combined with Alkylation
	5.8 Hydrogen and Syngas Production from Plastic Waste
	5.9 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 6: Plastics in Sustainable Energy and Transportation
	6.1 Floating Photovoltaic Panels
	6.2 Plastics in Electric Vehicles
	6.3 Plastics in High-Pressure Hydrogen Systems
	6.4 Wearable Energy Generation
	6.5 Plastics in Batteries
	6.6 Plastics in Biogas Storage Airbags
	6.7 Walking Cities and Settlements
	6.8 Plastics in Water Transportation
	6.9 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 7: Assessing the Impact of Plastics
	7.1 Life Cycle Assessment
	7.2 Mass Balance Approach
	7.3 Materials Flow Through Industry Approach
	7.4 Hazard Ranking Impact Assessment
	7.5 Hazard Ranking of Microplastics
	7.6 Material Input Per Service Unit
	7.7 Environmentally Extended Input-Output Analysis
	7.8 Cost-Benefit Analysis
	7.9 Environmental Priority System
	7.10 Sustainable Process Index
	7.11 Toward More Robust Tools for Impact Assessment of Plastics
	7.12 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 8: Plastics in Waste Management
	8.1 Plastics in Management of Sewage and Human Fecal Waste
		8.1.1 Plastic as Filtering Media in Wetland-Type Waste Water Treatment
		8.1.2 Container-Based Sanitation and Compost Toilets
	8.2 Plastics in Oil-Water Separation in Industrial Waste Water Treatment
	8.3 Banknote Waste Reduction
	8.4 Plastic Waste Disposal Containers
	8.5 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 9: Some Non-plastic Materials and Their Environmental Impacts
	9.1 Metals
		9.1.1 Production and Processing
	9.2 Impacts of Metal Production and Use
		9.2.1 Water Use and GHG Emissions
		9.2.2 Mine Tailings
		9.2.3 Red Mud Stockpiling
		9.2.4 Metal Coatings
		9.2.5 Open Cast Mines
		9.2.6 Green Steel
	9.3 Cellulose and Cellulose-Based Materials
	9.4 Wood and Wood-Based Materials
		9.4.1 Applications of Wood
		9.4.2 Wood Production
		9.4.3 Environmental Impact of Wood Harvesting and Processing
			9.4.3.1 Additives and Other Materials Used in Wood-Based Products
		9.4.4 Sustainable Wood Products
		9.4.5 Preserving Books and Art with Plastics
	9.5 Cotton
		9.5.1 Production of Cotton
		9.5.2 Environmental Impact of Cotton Production and Use
		9.5.3 Making Cotton More Sustainable
	9.6 Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.)
		9.6.1 Applications of Hemp
		9.6.2 Production of Hemp
		9.6.3 Environmental Impact of Hemp Production and Use
	9.7 Gemstones and Precious Metals
		9.7.1 Applications of Gemstones
		9.7.2 Production of Gemstones
		9.7.3 Environmental and Social Impact of Gemstone Production
		9.7.4 The Potential of Plastic Jewelry as a Substitute for Gemstones and Precious Metals
		9.7.5 Buildings and Building Materials
	9.8 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 10: Sustainable Plastics
	10.1 Introduction
	10.2 Renewable Synthetic Plastics
	10.3 Synthetic Biodegradable Plastics
	10.4 Plastics from Organic Waste
	10.5 Recycled Plastics
		10.5.1 Thermomechanical Recycling
	10.6 Chemical Recycling
	10.7 The Inherent Value of Used Plastics
	10.8 Making Plastics Reusable
	10.9 Reducing Plastic Use in Product Design and Production
		10.9.1 Composites
		10.9.2 Product Design, Process Optimization, and Materials Selection
	10.10 Global Policies and Commitments Toward Circular Plastic Economy
	10.11 Plastic Bans across the World
	10.12 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 11: Plastics and Space Exploration
	11.1 Significance of Space Exploration to the Global Society
	11.2 Spacesuits
	11.3 The Plastics in Spacesuits
	11.4 The Parachute System
	11.5 Spacecraft
	11.6 Plastics from Space
		11.6.1 Propene on Titan
		11.6.2 Biomining and Biosynthesis of Plastics in Space
		11.6.3 Scrap Plastic from Space Waste
	11.7 Radiation Shielding
	11.8 Tracking Ocean Microplastics Using NASA Data
	11.9 Plastics and Space Waste
		11.9.1 Global Agreement of Space Waste
		11.9.2 Space Debris Sensors
		11.9.3 Self-Repairing Thermoplastics
	11.10 Space Exploration and the Future of the Plastic Industry
	11.11 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 12: Plastics in Construction: Toward Green Buildings and Climate-Resilient Cities
	12.1 Recycled Plastic Roads
	12.2 Climate-Resilient Buildings
	12.3 Plastics in Green Roof Systems
		12.3.1 The Layers of the Green Roof System
		12.3.2 Waterproof Layer in Green Roofs
		12.3.3 Protection Layer
		12.3.4 Water Storage/Drainage Layer
		12.3.5 Filter Layer
	12.4 Floating Buildings for Flood Mitigation
	12.5 Plastics in Window Insulation
	12.6 Recycled Plastics in Masonry
	12.7 3D-Printed Buildings
	12.8 Eliminating Asbestos
	12.9 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 13: Future Outlook, Conclusion, and Recommendations
	13.1 Specialty Sustainable Plastics Optimized for Specific Applications
	13.2 Understanding the Full Impact of Microplastics
	13.3 Toward more Even Distribution in Global Waste Composition
	13.4 Size Matters
	13.5 Design for Reuse
	13.6 A Pathway from Single-Use to Reusable Plastics Manufacturing
	13.7 Biodegradable Lightweight Drones for Environmental Studies
	13.8 Traceable Value Chains
	13.9 Recycled Plastics in Urban Forests Schemes and Food Gardens
	13.10 Other Considerations
	13.11 Conclusion and Recommendations
	References