The Plastic Industry worldwide and in Palestine
Date
2021-02-20
Authors
Dweik, Hassan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University Deasnhip of Scientific Research
Abstract
A world without plastics or synthetic
polymers can't be imagined today. The first
synthetic plastics was produced in the beginning
of the twentieth century, however industrial
plastics production started in 1950. Production
of plastic materials to day surpasses any other
synthetic material with the exception of steel
and cement. The share of plastics in municipal
solid waste increased from 1% in the 1960 to
more than 10% in 2005. Most monomers used
today to make plastics such polyethylene (PE)
or Polypropylene (PP), or polystyrene (PS) are
produced from the petroleum industry and
none is biodegradable, they accumulate in
the environment and pose great threat and
serious concern to humanity and to marine life.
In 2010 approximately 8 Million Metric
Ton (MT) of plastic waste entered the marine
environment. Global production of polymers and
fiber increased from 2 (MT) in 1960 to 380(MT)
in 2015 a compound annual growth rate (CAGR)
of 8.4% while the total production of polymers
and fibers from 1960 – 2015 was estimated to be
around 7800 (MT). China alone produces 28%, and
68% of world production of PP. Biodegradable
plastics amount to only 4 (MT). Non fiber plastics
production is (PE 36%, PP 21%), Polyvinylchloride
PVC (12%) followed by polyethylene terphthalate
PET, polyurethane, and polystyrene less than
10% each ,42% of plastics are used in packaging.
Palestine show a fast-growing plastic
industry though we import plastics worth 255
million US $ as reported in the United Nations
International Trade Statistics (COMTRADE) in
2018, compared to US $200 Million imported
in 2014. However, we were able to export to
the world 66.3 million US $ worth of plastic
materials added to that our export to Israel of
plastic product worth 86 million US $, mostly
packaging materials.Three important countries
that export plastic materials to Palestine are
Turkey. China and south Korea. Turkey alone
in 2018 exported plastics worth 25 million $.
The plastic industry in Palestine is among the
largest industry. However, we still manufacture
the traditional plastics for packaging. Our country
needs to develop this industry and diversify
the plastic products to meet the needs of the
market such as automobile, electrical appliances,
refrigerators, and many other industries.