Polymers: The Six R's
Design & Technology: AQA GCSE, topic 5.1.6
The Six R's
The six R’s (reduce, refuse, reuse, repair, recycle, and rethink) help to consider plastic's effectiveness as an environmentally friendly material.
Reduce
- We should consider reducing the amount of plastic we use in products.
- We could make products with less plastic.
- We could make products with alternative materials.
Reuse
- Reusing polymers is essential to maintain the environment.
- Reusing polymers also gives products a new lease of life.
- Single-use plastic is discarded in landfills.
- Landfills are burned and destroyed.
- We could have a system where single-use plastic is not sold.
- Consumers could be encouraged to purchase products that last longer.
Refuse
- Refusing can make a statement that we need to stop manufacturing polymer-based products.
- For example, single-use plastic products such as pop bottles and vapes.
Recycle
- Thermoforming polymers can be recycled.
- We need to place plastic items in the correct bins.
- Companies make their new products from recycled plastic rather than new plastic.
- For example, packaging companies often use recycled plastic.
Test yourself on Polymers: The Six R's
What are the six Rs?
Which of the following can be recycled?