There has been an increase in natural disasters in recent years, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and snowstorms. These natural disasters have greatly affected the plastics industry. While the plastics industry plays an integral role in disaster preparedness, cleanup, and recovery, natural disasters can also impact production, supply chains, and prices. Here are some of the ways natural disasters affect the plastics industry.
Disaster Preparedness
Plastics are used to help prevent and prepare for natural disasters. For example, polycarbonate is used to make storm-resistant window coverings. These window coverings can help protect against flying debris during hurricanes and tornadoes, reducing casualties and minimizing property damage in the process. Polythene is a plastic film used to cover hillsides during heavy rainstorms. This cover helps prevent mudslides by redirecting the water from the hill so the ground doesn’t absorb more water than it can withstand.
Cleanup and Recovery
Plastics play an essential role in cleanup and recovery. Companies can use plastic material to build a temporary shelter for people who have lost their homes in storms or fires. Plastics are used to collect oil during the oil spill and remove it from natural habitats. Plastics are also used to store clean water, package food, and keep medical and cleaning supplies sanitary and dry before use. The increased frequency of natural disasters has led to a rise in the demand for plastics for storage, transportation, and other tasks crucial to post-disaster recovery.
Production Facilities
Natural disasters can also damage manufacturing facilities and refineries. This damage can drive up the price of plastics and limit the ability to produce the plastic material used in disaster preparedness and cleanup. Gas prices are a significant issue. The oil price often goes up when there is a major natural disaster, which increases transportation prices, making it more expensive to manufacture and distribute plastics. To counter some of these issues, companies need to have diverse supply chains.
Hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, oil spills, and other disasters can significantly impact the plastics industry. On the one hand, it can increase the demand for plastic material used for disaster preparedness and cleanup. On the other hand, natural disasters can damage energy and manufacturing facilities used in plastics production, affecting supply chains. Those in the plastics industry need to know both sides to plan better for the future.
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