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Companies That Produce the Most Plastic and the Negative Effects of It

Plastic has been used in the industries for decades. We use materials made out of plastic daily.

Just like its advantages, plastic has many disadvantages too. 

Plastic production has significantly risen in the recent decades. The United States of America is one of the countries that plays a major role in this production. In 2019, North America had produced nearly 20% of plastic globally. 

There are many companies around the world that are responsible for most of the plastic produced materials in the world. Dow Chemical and ExxonMobil chemical division based in the U.S.A, are two of them. 

Here is a list of 8 largest companies that most contribute to the production of the plastic in the world:

  1. Dow Chemical

  2. Hanwool Corporation

  3. LyondellBasell

  4. Ihne & Tesch GmbH

  5. ExxonMobil

  6. Matsui Technologies India Ltd

  7. SABIC

  8. Acros Pvt. Ltd.

The world currently produces around 450 million tons of plastic waste annually. It is estimated that between 1 and 2 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year which is accounting for approximately 0.5% of plastic waste. 

The production of million tons of plastic every single year has a serious negative effect on our environment. 

  1. Pollution: Plastic waste pollutes land, waterways and oceans. It is a threat to wildlife because animals may ingest or become entangled in them. 

  2. Microplastics: Over time, larger plastic items break down into tiny particles called microplastics. They can be found in soil, water and even the air. They are harmful for aquatic life and even may enter the food chain.

  3. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Plastic production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The extraction of fossil fuels which is used to make plastic and after that the manufacturing processes release carbon dioxide and other pollutants that ultimately increase greenhouse gas.

  4. Longevity: Plastic can persist for centuries. They are hard to break down and impact ecosystems and landscapes. Even “biodegradable” plastics take a long time to break down. 

Plastic is a useful material, but the overproduction of this element is harmful for our environment and us, the living beings on this planet. Let’s remember that we have only one planet. 


By M. Nargis

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