The aim of this material is to help students to understand the circular economy of plastics.
This teaching material focuses on the processing of polymer products, the making and use of plastic products, the effect of them on environment, reuse and recycling or extermination by taking circular economy in account in every stage.
Plastics on Their Way starts with the planning and making of polymer materials from the monomers and ends to think ways how to use the materials as efficient as possible. At all the stages the present practices are questioned and made attempts to find more environmentally friendly alternatives. The starting point is to use materials and energy so that as small amount of waste as possible would be created. In addition, the waste and energy could utilize as material of some other product or other energy form in the future.
The teaching material has been used as one part of Polymer Chemistry and Composites course. Material contains links to the articles and books which deal circular economy of plastics. Moreover, it includes many questions and a final task. The idea is that students search answers to questions both at home and in the lessons and take a final task in the end of the course.