Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit, learners will gain a clear understanding of the following:

1. Understand where plastics come from, their basic composition, and why their versatile properties make them useful across many industries.

2. Learn how to differentiate between the types of plastics using the identification codes and understand the purpose behind these codes in industry and recycling processes.

3. Differentiate between bioplastics, compostable plastics, and conventional plastics, and understand some of the challenges associated with each type.

4. Gain insight into the lifecycle of plastics from their production stages to their disposal, and possible prevention measures at each stage.

5. Explore the context of the plastic pollution problem in Africa and gain an overview of what happens to plastics once they reach the end of their usable life.