Video: The Power of Recycling Plastic

Between 1950 and 2017, two million tons of plastic were produced. While plastic has been used in everything from food containers to automobile manufacturing, plastic waste and production have negatively impacted our environment. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that by 2050, 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions will be caused by the plastic lifecycle. In an effort to combat plastic waste, the UNEP is developing ways to reuse and recycle plastic materials. For example, Gjenge Makers Ltd., based out of Nairobi, is converting plastics to create bricks that are strong enough to be used as inexpensive building materials. Manufacturers like igus have also committed to the idea of a circular economy and recycle 99 percent of their plastic waste back into their production process.