The Plastics Economy
The Importance of
Plastics
- Innovative & versatile material
- Ideal for wide range of consumer & industrial applications
- Easily moulded into complex shapes
- Relatively low density gives the advantages of light weight
- Can conduct electricity when required
- Corrosion resistant
- Transparent plastics makes optical devices possible
- Can be modified with additions to meet the demands of specific applications
- Contribute to sustainability, safety, longer lives and better performance
- Durable & suitable for use in harsh environments
Plastics In All
Industries
Industry
Statistics
PACKAGING
MENA market to grow to $52bn by 2019
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
Saudi Arabia & the UAE remain the largest regional markets expected to award construction contracts of over $320bn during 2019 & over $3trn projects are in the pipeline
MOBILITY & TRANSPORT
UAE is the region’s best market for logistics worth $30bn & has maintained it’s global position as 3rd best among top 55 emerging logistics markets
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS
Electronics is the largest ecommerce category in the GCC & Egypt accounting for $2.9bn growing annually at 23%. Ecommerce in the MENA is expected to reach $28.5bn by 2022
AGRICULTURE
Global market is expected to reach $20,635mn by 2026
HEALTHCARE
Private healthcare market in the GCC is expected to grow by 8.7% & will touch $94bn by 2021
SPORTS & LEISURE
UAE’s leisure market set to grow as 45mn visitors are expected by 2021, including 30mn international tourists. Dubai recorded the highest international overnight visitor spend of $29.7bn in 2017. UAE’s exercise industry is valued at $380mn.
History Of
Plastics
Derived from the Greek word “pastikos’ meaning fit for moulding, it is a story of over 100 years of innovation.
Plastics invented over 100 years ago is an organic material just like wood, paper or wool and is a modern material of choice as it makes possible to balance the needs with environmental concerns.
The raw materials used to produce plastics are natural products such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and, of course, crude oil.
Plastics is everyday life-the use of plastic products helps make our lives cleaner, easier, safer and more enjoyable. We find plastics in the clothes we wear, the houses we live in, and the cars we travel in. Toys, televisions, computers all contain plastics.
Some Home Truths:
- CELLULOID – 1855 (then known as Parkesine, invented by Alexander Parkes)
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - was first polymerised between 1838-1872.
- First real synthetic, mass-produced plastic – 1907 (Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland created Bakelite)
- Has never looked back, many new plastics have been developed offering varied properties, and these we find in every home, office, factory, vehicle etc.