Because? Because brightly colored plastics fragment faster. They become polluting microplastics. Researchers at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom discovered it. Red, green and blue plastics are more harmful because they degrade more quickly compared to those that are black, white or silver.
«Plastic is not just the polymer. It has many different components. “The dye is a significant part of its mass,” explains Andrew Abbott, professor of physical chemistry at the University of Leicester.
Choosing colors
These dyes may or may not protect the plastic (depending on the color in question) from the harmful ultraviolet radiation that promotes its disintegration. All plastics degrade. But the speed at which they do this depends on the additive added. In one experiment, they left bottle caps of different colors outdoors for three years. «The black, white and silver covers were the same. The green, red and blue ones were quite broken. Even under static conditions. Therefore, red, green and blue plastics are more harmful.
The color that will be given to them should be chosen based on the durability for which they are designed. And consider both the recyclability of the material and the probability that it will become garbage. «For objects that are used outdoors or exposed to sunlight, you should consider avoiding colors such as red, green and blue. “This way they can last as long as possible.”
The same in the case of door and window frames, pipes or gutters. They are more durable when they are white, black or silver. For short-lived plastics such as wrappers, bottle caps, etc., the study notes, “black should be avoided.” That is, the colors that make these objects more durable.
Microplastics
The big problem with microplastics is that since they are present in almost all ecosystems on the planet, they end up being part of the food chain.
The health impact of ingesting microplastics is not yet fully understood. And some research indicates that it can negatively affect our endocrine system and the hormones that regulate our growth and development. Its intake has also been linked to other health problems including cancer and coronary heart disease.
