Chapter 1

Background of the problem Statement of the Research Problem Research Objectives Scope and Limitations

Background of the Problem Plastic is a versatile and potentially indestructible material, which makes it ideal for a number of commercial and household uses. Indeed, plastic has become a substitute for many items which used to be made from other substances, such as plastic bottles for condiments such ketchup. In many cases, this is extremely useful and convenient. However, plastic has a many environmental downsides, beginning with the production of plastic and extending to its disposal. Plastic is actually a derivative of petroleum, natural gas or similar substances. They are transformed into a substance known as polymer resin, which is then shaped and formed into whatever object is desired. However, as a petroleum by-product, plastic contributes to oil dependency, at a time when it is generally recognized that oil will not be available indefinitely. Also, the production method of plastic represents a major source of air and water pollution. Although many types of plastics could potentially be recycled, very little plastic actually ever enters the recycling production process. The most commonly recycled type of plastic is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used for soft drink bottles. Approximately 15 to 27 percent of PET bottles are recycled annually. The other type of plastic which is somewhat commonly recycled is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is used for shampoo bottles, milk jugs and two thirds of what are called rigid plastic containers. Approximately 10 percent of HDPE plastic is recycled annually.

Statement of the Research Problem The plastic issue in the Philippines is a big concern of everyone, babies, teens, parents, professionals, and businessmen, top CEOs of a company, businesses, the government, ethnic tribes, cities, provinces, and even different countries. The synthetic material has left harmful imprints on the environment and perhaps human health through different ways. If Filipinos could find a way to limit the consumption of plastic, it could really help not only our environment but also our countrymen as well. A hollow block made of plastic could help lessen plastic wastes and also help homeless people in the country. If this could be done in almost all places in the Philippines, this could not only help our environment and homeless people, but also minimize cost.

Research Objectives The objective of this research is to know of the harmful things done by plastic wastes and Styrofoam in our environment, what can be done to eliminate these wastes, how a barangay or a small municipality does to its plastic wastes, who are the main officials involved in this kind of project and who can benefit from it. The research also aims to know the importance of using a plastic hollow block.

Scope and Limitations As the scope of this research, the researcher will gather information available on the Internet regarding plastic wastes, plastic hollow blocks, and harmful effects of plastic in the environment. The researcher will also use a powerful media tool, a newspaper on gathering information. Research methodology shall be done using interviews and survey questions on 18-50 year olds about the use of plastic hollow blocks. The limitation of this study is to not gather information from 18 years old and below.

Chapter 2
Brief History Discussion

Brief History A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids that are moldable. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals, but many are partially natural. Early plastics were bioderived materials such as egg and blood proteins, which are organic polymers. Treated cattle horns were used as windows for lanterns in the Middle Ages. Materials that mimicked the properties of horns were developed by treating milk-proteins (casein) with lye. In the 1800s the development of plastics accelerated with Charles Goodyear's discovery of vulcanization as a route to thermoset materials derived from natural rubber. Many storied materials were reported as industrial chemistry was developed in the 1800s. In the early 1900s, Bakelite, the first fully synthetic thermoset was reported by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland. After the First World War, improvements in chemical technology led to an explosion in new forms of plastics. Among the earliest examples in the wave of new polymers were polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The development of plastics has come from the use of natural plastic materials (e.g., chewing gum, shellac) to the use of chemically modified natural materials (e.g., rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen, galalite) and finally to completely synthetic molecules (e.g., bakelite, epoxy, polyvinyl chloride).

Discussion From cell phones and computers to bicycle helmets and hospital IV bags, plastic has molded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. One of the most ubiquitous and long-lasting recent changes to the surface of our planet is the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics, wrote David Barnes, a lead author and researcher for the British Antarctic Survey. Since its mass production began in the 1940s, plastics wide range of unique properties has propelled it to an essential status in society. Next year, more than 300 million tons will be produced worldwide. The amount of plastic manufactured in the first ten years of this century will approach the total produced in the entire last century. Evidence is mounting that the chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that might harm people and the environment. And its production and disposal contribute to an array of environmental problems, too. For example: Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health effects. Plastic debris, laced with chemicals and often ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife. Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats. Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.

 Around 4 percent of world oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process.

People are exposed to chemicals from plastic multiple times per day through the air, dust, water, food and use of consumer products. For example, phthalates are used as plasticizers in the manufacture of vinyl flooring and wall coverings, food packaging and medical devices. Eight out of every ten babies, and nearly all adults, have measurable levels of phthalates in their bodies.

Landfill Disposal The vast majority of plastic, especially plastic bags, winds up in landfills. Besides the fact that available landfill space is becoming increasingly scarce, plastic poses special problems for landfills. Most plastic is not biodegradable, which means it does not break down to its simple component parts. This means it remains present in landfills indefinitely. Another problem is that birds frequently become tangled in plastic bags and plastic rings for soft drink cans, either choking or breaking their wings.

Incineration Some industry officials have promoted the incineration of plastic as a means of disposal. A similar process known as pyrolysis bakes plastics into a hydrocarbon soup which can be reused in oil and chemical refineries. However, both incineration and pyrolysis are more expensive than recycling, and each process also poses severe air pollution problems.

Marine Pollution A large proportion of plastic winds up in the ocean, where it is often torn into small particles which are eaten by marine animals. This causes a possible serious threat to the food chain, as the marine animals are eaten by other animals which eventually wind up in human diets. Plastic particles sometimes are so numerous that they appear to be ocean foam if viewed from a distance. In an article in Philippine Daily Inquirer, it is written Senate Bill 2759, authored by Sen. Loren Legarda, is most timely and even carries with it a sense of urgency, as does Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s Senate Bill 2749. Legardas bill asks supermarkets, restaurants and retail stores to cease using plastic bags. As the problems of pollution, environmental degradation and severe weather shifts escalate, all sectors of society must act with dispatch. Individuals must make conscious efforts to change our daily routine and practices to produce a positive impact on our environment. While on the other hand, the recycling of plastic and other solid waste is more productive than an outright ban on plastic, according to Crispian Lao, one of the private sector representatives in the National Solid Waste Management Commission.

The Malabon solid waste management office (SWMO) said its hollow blocks, which are made from recycled styrofoam and plastic waste, are ideal for constructing sheds and other single-storey structures. This plastic hollow blocks is first introduced into the Philippines by a foreigner and the Payatas where the first one to adapt this kind

of environmental project. The plastic hollow block is said to be cheaper which costs P6 a piece while concrete hollow blocks cost P10-12 a piece.

A Green Marketing Research about: The Use of Plastic Hollow Blocks for Construction of Housing

Submitted by: Abat, Bettina Camille M. MKA42

Submitted to: Maam Rhodora Rosales Green Marketing Professor