Lakhasly

The current problems associated with functional polymers and plastics
Plastic production in the world is estimated to have reached 348 metric tonnes in 2017 [110].
Unfortunately, many commercially used polymers are derived from nonrenewable sources, and
as a result, they are environmentally hazardous due to their low biodegradability and high
accumulation rate, making them a global problem [110]. As a result of the foregoing, various
government policies based on comprehensive waste management have been put in place.
However, the implementation of these programs is often inefficient due to a lack of coverage,
infrastructure, resources, or community interest in waste management [111]. Simultaneously,
physical and chemical processes for the transformation and utilization of polymer waste have
been developed. Thus, mechanical recycling is commonly used in thermoplastic polymers to
produce the raw materials to manufacture new products through the selection, washing,
compaction, and palletization of plastic waste; however, after several cycles of recycling, the
mechanical properties of the polymers can be altered to the point of losing practical
applicability, and the reuse of material is limited depending on the initial type of application.
For example, recycled food packaging should not be used in other applications for health
reasons; the same is true for biomedical packages used to collect biological samples, etc. [112].
According to the foregoing, it is clear that there is an urgent need to develop and promote
actions and legislation to ensure maximum environmental preservation [112]. However, it is
clear that this required a high level of awareness on the part of humanity about its role in the
environment, as well as a clear understanding of the vulnerability of everything that supports
us as a species on a planet with finite resources. The concept of "green chemistry" has been
successfully applied in a variety of industries, including automobile, cosmetic, energy, and
pharmaceutical, to name a few [112]. And it is clear that its success in its foray into the
industrial field is due to a confluence of factors such as the recognition of the possibility of
extinction, the association of the adjective "environmentally friendly" as a positive
characteristic of products, and a population increasingly identifying with the importance of
preserving the environment. Furthermore, increasingly stringent regulations have an impact on
the productive sectors. Thus, from a market and economic standpoint, "environmentally
friendly" is unquestionably a commercial label for positive product promotion. Faced with the
threat to our species' survival, the concept of green chemistry has undoubtedly served as a tool
to stimulate governmental and private participation through the formation of pacts and
alliances, educational initiatives, and research centers [113].