Plastic Applications

What sectors use plastic?

Plastic is used across almost every sector, including to produce packaging, in building and construction, in textiles, consumer products, transportation, electrical and electronics and industrial machinery.

Is plastic important for innovations?

In the UK, more patents are filed each year in plastics than for glass, metal and paper combined. There are constant innovations occurring with polymers that can help revolutionise industries. These include shape-memory polymers, light-responsive polymers and self-heaing polymers.

What is plastic used for?

Aerospace

The cost-effective and safe transportation of people and goods is vital to our economy, cutting the weight of cars, aeroplanes, boats and trains can cut fuel consumption dramatically. The lightness of plastics therefore makes them invaluable to the transport industry.
CLICK HERE for more information on the role plastics plays in transport

Construction
Plastics are used in a growing range of applications in the construction industry. They have great versatility and combine excellent strength to weight ratio, durability, cost effectiveness, low maintenance and corrosion resistance which make plastics an economically attractive choice throughout the construction sector.
CLICK HERE for more information on the use of plastics in the construction sector

Electrical and Electronic Applications
Electricity powers almost every aspect of our lives, at home and in our jobs, at work and at play. And everywhere that we find electricity, we also find plastics.
CLICK HERE for more information on the use of plastics in electrical and electronic applications

Packaging
Plastics is the perfect material for use in packaging goods. Plastics is versatile, hygenic, lightweight, flexible and highly durable. It accounts for the largest usage of plastics world wide and is used in numerous packaging applications including containers, bottles, drums, trays, boxes, cups and vending packaging, baby products and protection packaging.
The Benefits of Using Plastic Packaging
Shelf life
Child resistant packaging
The BPF Packaging Group

Automotive
Bumpers, dashboards, engine parts, seating and doors

Energy Generation
Wind turbines, solar panels and wave booms

Furniture
Bedding, upholstery and household furniture

Marine
Boat hulls and sails

Medical and Healthcare
Syringes, bood bags, tubins, dialysis machines, heart valves, artificial limbs and wound dressing

Military
Helmets, body armour, tanks, warships, aircraft and communications equipment