Big bag ban

The EU has recently approved tough new measures to slash the use of plastic bags. New targets will force each country to reduce plastic bag use by 80% before 2019.
In this activity students examine degradable plastic bags as a possible alternative to ordinary plastic bags. They choose questions to ask experts, and come to a reasoned decision in answer to the dilemma question: will degradable plastic bags solve the problems caused by ordinary plastic bags?

Learning objectives

• Materials: properties of polymers
• Science in society: evaluate the merits of a solution to a real-world problem

Blueprint curriculum link

• Unit: Structure & bonding
• Concept: Structure & properties: Physical properties depend upon the structure of a substance, the energy to overcome forces between particles and the ability of charged particles to flow
• Skills: Read: Make inferences
• Learning stage: Analyse

Activity contents

• Teachers guide
• PowerPoint file

The activity is delivered as a zip file. After you checkout, you will be sent an email with the link to download it.

Weblinks

News story

The EU demands for a reduction in plastic bag use.

Article about biodegradable plastics

Are they better for the environment? This article is accessible to students.

Newspaper article 

This article is about research on biodegradable plastic bags.

Background reading on degradable plastics

Very long and detailed report of research literature on degradable bags, for teacher reference.