5.1.2

Polymers: Environment & Ethics

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Environment & Ethics

When manufacturing any product it is important to think about how the material choice can impact our planet.

Non-renewable

Non-renewable

  • Polymers are manufactured from crude oil which means they are a non-renewable source.
Biodegradation

Biodegradation

  • Polymers take a long time to biodegrade which impacts the planet and our environment.
    • It is estimated that some polymers can take hundreds of years to biodegrade.
Pollution

Pollution

  • Polymers give off toxic gas if burnt.
  • Polymers pollute our water, rivers, and oceans.
Recyclable

Recyclable

  • Thermoforming polymers such as acrylic and HIPS can be recycled.
    • A lot of companies now use recycled polymers to manufacture their products.
  • Not all polymers can be recycled which has a greater impact on the planet.
Jump to other topics
1

Core Technical Principles

1.1

New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.1Industry1.1.2Enterprise1.1.3Sustainability1.1.4People1.1.5Culture & Society1.1.6Environment1.1.7Production Techniques & Systems1.1.8Emerging Technologies & Design1.1.9End of Topic Test - New & Emerging Technologies1.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Emerging Technologies
1.2

Energy Generation & Storage

1.2.1Fossil Fuels & Nuclear1.2.2Renewable Energy1.2.3Energy Storage Systems
1.3

Developments in New Materials

1.3.1Modern Materials1.3.2Smart Materials1.3.3Exam-Style Questions - Smart Materials1.3.4Composite Materials1.3.5Technical Textiles
1.4

Systems Approach to Designing

1.4.1Inputs1.4.2Processes1.4.3Outputs1.4.4Looped Systems
1.5

Mechanical Devices

1.5.1Types of Movement1.5.2Levers1.5.3Linkages1.5.4Rotary Systems1.5.5End of Topic Test - Designing & Mechanical Devices
1.6

Materials Categories

1.6.1Timbers1.6.2Metals & Alloys1.6.3Metals & Alloys 21.6.4Polymers1.6.5Polymer Types1.6.6Textiles1.6.7Textile Types: Fibres1.6.8Textile Types: Weave1.6.9Paper & Boards
1.7

Material Properties

1.7.1Physical & Working Properties1.7.2End of Topic Test - Materials1.7.3Exam-Style Questions - Materials
2

Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

2.1

Selection of Materials

2.1.1Paper & Boards2.1.2Working with Paper & Boards
2.2

Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.1Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses2.2.2Cardboard & Paper
2.3

Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.1Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint2.3.2Paper & Board: The Six Rs2.3.3Social Issues
2.4

Paper & Board: Sources & Origins

2.4.1Paper & Board2.4.2End of Topic Test - Paper & Board
2.5

Paper & Board: Using Materials

2.5.1Paper & Board: Properties of Materials2.5.2Paper & Board: Modification of Materials2.5.3Paper & Board: Shape & Form
2.6

Paper & Board: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

2.6.1Paper & Board: Forms2.6.2Paper & Board: Types2.6.3Paper & Board: Sizes2.6.4Paper & Board: Standards Components
2.7

Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.1Paper & Board: Scales of Production2.7.2Exam-Style Questions - Scales of Production
2.8

Paper & Board: Specialist Techniques & Processes

2.8.1Paper & Board: Techniques & Processes2.8.2Paper & Board: Quality Control
2.9

Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.1Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes2.9.2End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques
3

Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

3.1

Timber: Selection of Materials

3.1.1Timber Based Materials3.1.2Timber: Environment & Ethics
3.2

Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.1Timber: Forces & Stresses3.2.2Timber
3.3

Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.1Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint3.3.2Timber: The Six Rs3.3.3Timber: Social Issues3.3.4Exam-Style Questions - Timber
3.4

Timber: Sources & Origins

3.4.1Timber3.4.2Timber: Processing & Seasoning3.4.3Manufactured Board3.4.4End of Topic Test - Timber
3.5

Timber: Using Materials

3.5.1Timber: Properties of Materials3.5.2Timber: Modification of Materials3.5.3Timber: Shape & Form3.5.4Timber: Shape & Form 2
3.6

Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.6.1Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes
3.7

Timber: Scales of Production

3.7.1Timber: Scales of Production
3.8

Timber: Specialist Techniques & Processes

3.8.1Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes3.8.2Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 23.8.3Timber: Quality Control
3.9

Timber: Surface Treatments & Finishes

3.9.1Timber: Surface Treatments3.9.2Timber: Finishes3.9.3End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques
4

Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

4.1

Metals: Selection of Materials

4.1.1Metal-Based Materials4.1.2Ferrous Metals4.1.3Non-Ferrous Metals4.1.4Alloys4.1.5Metals: Environment & Ethics
4.2

Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.2.1Metals: Forces & Stresses
4.3

Metals: Ecological & Social Footprint

4.3.1Metals: Ecological Footprint4.3.2Metals: Social Footprint4.3.3Metals: The Six R's4.3.4Metals: Social Issues
4.4

Metals: Sources & Origins

4.4.1Origins of Metal4.4.2Processing Metals
4.5

Metals: Alloy-Based Materials

4.5.1Types of Metal Alloys4.5.2Alloying Elements4.5.3Properties & Benefits4.5.4Processing & Fabrication4.5.5Applications of Alloys4.5.6Metal Alloys in Industry4.5.7Applications of Metal Alloys
4.6

Metals: Using Materials

4.6.1Properties of Metals4.6.2Modification of Metals4.6.3Metals: Shape & Form
4.7

Metals: Scales of Production

4.7.1Metals: Scales of Production
4.8

Metals: Specialist Techniques & Processes

4.8.1Metals: Tools4.8.2Metals: Tools & Equipment4.8.3Metals: Cutting, Forming & Machining Processes4.8.4Metals: Joining, Casting & Heat Treatment Process
4.9

Metals: Quality Control

4.9.1Metals: Quality Control4.9.2Metals: Quality Control Processes
4.10

Metals: Surface Treatments & Finishes

4.10.1Metals: Surface Treatments4.10.2Metals: Surface Treatments for Metals4.10.3Metals: Finishes4.10.4Metals: Finishing Techniques for Metals
5

Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

5.1

Polymers

5.1.1Polymers: Functionality & Aesthetics5.1.2Polymers: Environment & Ethics5.1.3Polymers: Sources, Origins & Properties5.1.4Polymers: Forces & Stresses5.1.5Polymers: Ecological & Social Footprint5.1.6Polymers: The Six R's
5.2

Polymer Categories

5.2.1Categories of Polymers5.2.2Thermoforming Polymers5.2.3Thermosetting Polymers
5.3

Polymer Forms

5.3.1Polymers: Stock Forms5.3.2Polymers: Shape & Form
5.4

Polymer Production, Techniques & Quality Control

5.4.1Polymers: Scales of Production5.4.2Polymers: Specialist Techniques & Processes5.4.3Polymers: Quality Control Systems: Tolerance5.4.4Polymers: Finishes
6

Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

6.1

Textile Materials

6.1.1Origin of Textiles6.1.2Textile Industry
6.2

Selection of Materials

6.2.1Natural Fibres6.2.2Synthetic Fibres6.2.3Environmental Concerns6.2.4Environmental Impact6.2.5Ethical Challenges
6.3

Forces & Stresses

6.3.1Forces & Stresses
6.4

Ecological & Social Footprint

6.4.1Ecological Footprint6.4.2Social Footprint6.4.3Addressing Ecological & Social Footprints6.4.4The Six R's6.4.5Labour Conditions6.4.6Social Issues6.4.7Addressing Social Issues
7

Designing & Making Principles

7.1

Investigation & Data

7.1.1Iterative Design7.1.2Primary & Secondary Data7.1.3Market Research7.1.4Ergonomics7.1.5Specifications7.1.6End of Topic Test - Investigation & Data7.1.7Exam-Style Questions - Specifications
7.2

Environmental, Social & Economic Challenges

7.2.1Challenges7.2.2Your Research
7.3

The Work of Others

7.3.1Designers7.3.2Architects7.3.3Product Design7.3.4Industrial Designers7.3.5Product Design Companies7.3.6Textile Design Companies7.3.7End of Topic Test - The Work of Others
7.4

Design Strategies

7.4.1Design Strategies
7.5

Communication of Design Ideas

7.5.1Design Communication
7.6

Prototype Development

7.6.1Prototype Development
7.7

Selection of Materials

7.7.1Materials
7.8

Tolerances

7.8.1Tolerances
7.9

Material Management

7.9.1Managing Material7.9.2Tools
7.10

Specialist Equipment

7.10.1Health & Safety
7.11

Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.1Specialist Techniques & Processes7.11.2Surface Finishes7.11.3End of Topic Test - Designing & Making

Practice questions on Polymers: Environment & Ethics

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What are polymers manufactured from?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    How many years does it take for polymers to biodegrade? Multiple choice
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Polymers: Functionality & Aesthetics

Polymers: Sources, Origins & Properties