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. For example, plastics engineers have helped manufacturers make products using less material by lightweighting and thin-walling consumer product packaging.
Plastics help make packaging more efficient, thereby conserving resources.
For example, it takes seven trucks to carry the same number of paper bags that fit in one truckload of plastic bags. Reuse Reuse provides another significant way to conserve resources. Plastics durability allows many products and packaging to be reused over and over again. Not surprisingly, in a 1997 survey, Wirthlin Worldwide found that more than 80 percent of Americans reuse plastic products and packaging in their home. Plastics are durable, making it a material of choice for commonly reused items, such as food storage containers and refillable sports bottles.