The Plastic Museum, long life the plastic

Today, 17^th May, is the Global Recycling Day. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established this day in 2005 in order to raise awareness about the importance of treating waste properly and to promote a greater commitment among the inhabitants of the planet.

Improved and continuous communication about the benefits of the use and recycling of thermoformed PET packaging is the cornerstone of the Plastic Sense Foundation’s information and awareness activity. We know that general level of knowledge amongst consumers is limited, since they do not appreciate the benefits of PET as a material, its low carbon footprint, its value as a recyclable resource, no matter if monolayer or multilayer, or the role played by the barrier properties of the PET tray in the fight against food waste.

On this day, we would like to applaud the initiative of The Plastic Museum, promoted by the Platform EsPlasticos. This museum “inaugurated to be recycled” has made its visitors aware of the contribution of plastics when they are used correctly and has shown visually that the problem arises when plastics are used irresponsibly or they are not well managed at the end of their life. In addition, through the pieces displayed, it is highlighted the importance of the use of plastic as a multipurpose material and its contribution to the protection of the environment in all its phases of eco-design, use, reuse and recycling.

Throughout its three exhibition rooms, the museum, built entirely in plastic, is presented as a transforming space, which pursuits a change in the perception of plastic nowadays. Today the museum is disassembled to reuse and recycle all its parts. The life of the museum, like that of plastic packaging, could have been ephemeral but its materials will live much longer through other objects and other uses. And in the case of PET trays, which have a sustainable profile that combines recyclability and recycled content, they will return to serve us again and again as new trays in the circular economy circuit generated thanks to the commitment of companies such as those certified with ECOSENSE.

We thank the entities that make up the Platform EsPlasticos and that have made possible this Plastic Museum, which has managed in such a creative and effective way to convey to all the attendant people the importance that the gesture of recycling supposes to get the most out of the potential of these valuable materials.

Mercedes Gómez Paniagua

Managing Director