Therefore, it naturally follows that resource conservation is the planned management of natural resources to optimize their utility. Applied to natural materials such as wood, minerals and water, resource conservation then typically includes efficient usage in their original application, reuse, and recycling.
Plastic products employ all elements of resource conservation through their entire life cycle.
Plastics are derived from natural resources - typically oil and natural gas. And yet, because plastics are so efficient, their application often conserves other resources during a product's life cycle when compared to the alternatives. Through effective resource conservation, we all can mitigate the impact of consumption on the planet by using the earth's resources wisely. This includes making and choosing products that minimize the energy consumed and environmental impact during production, through the life of a product, and on to final disposal. EPA also defines source reduction as increasing the functionality and durability of a product.