One of the leading industries in the UAE is the plastic industry sector. The most prevailing products of this sector are plastic bottles and containers, pipes and pipe fittings (nylon, plastic and fiberglass), bags (plastic, nylon and PVC), plastic doors and windows, plastic sheets and rolls, packaging blisters, plastic disposable products (such as foils and cutlery), plastic pallets and skids, plastic fabrics, films, rods, tubes and sheets.

A plastic material is a synthetic or semi-s... More >>

One of the leading industries in the UAE is the plastic industry sector. The most prevailing products of this sector are plastic bottles and containers, pipes and pipe fittings (nylon, plastic and fiberglass), bags (plastic, nylon and PVC), plastic doors and windows, plastic sheets and rolls, packaging blisters, plastic disposable products (such as foils and cutlery), plastic pallets and skids, plastic fabrics, films, rods, tubes and sheets.

A plastic material is a synthetic or semi-synthetic organic material used in the manufacture of industrial products. Some of the industrial raw materials used in making plastics are powders, liquids, resins (such as melamine resin), etc. A plastic material is lightweight, has high resistance in corrosion, high strength-to-weight ratios, low melting points, and capable of being cast or molded. It is relatively cheap, easy to manufacture, versatile and impenetrable to water. Because of these, plastics and plastic products in the UAE have been more in-demand as compared to other products made of a different material. Thus, the plastic industry in the UAE have grown and expanded to cater wide range of products.

In a highly developing country like UAE, plastics play a major role in all industrial and commercial operations. The plastic industry in the UAE produces a broad range of products serving local/international consumers and industrial users specifically in food and FMCG, manufacturing, construction, petrochemicals, automotive, electronics, cosmetics and retail industries.
There are two types of plastics: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics are plastics that do not undergo chemical change in their composition when heated and can be molded over and over again. On the other hand, thermosets are plastics that when melted, it can only take shape once, that is, they stay solid after they have solidified.

The most common thermoplastics in the UAE are polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polytetrafluoroethylene. Some examples of polyethylene plastic products are chemical-resistant industrial tanks, sinks and containers, food storage containers, food cutting boards, corrosion-resistant wall coverings, boat trailer skids and packaging materials (such as plastic shrink/stretch films and gift wrapping material). Polypropylene is resistant to fatigue, corrosion, heat and chemical leaching making it a practical material for plastic parts of reusable containers, packaging products, textile (ropes, carpets, rugs, mats), automotive components, loudspeakers and piping systems. Another common application for polypropylene is as biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) sheets. These sheets can be made into clear bags, film sheets and adhesive tapes. Polystyrene is used in plastic products like CD/DVD cases, disposable razors, disposable cutlery and plastic models. Polyvinyl chloride is most commonly used in sewerage pipes, window and door frames, greenhouses, and furniture. Polytetrafluoroethylene is used as non-stick coating for pans and cookware.
On the other hand, thermosets are used in glass reinforced plastic products. It is also used in products such as electrical insulators, plasticware (e.g. strainers), automotive parts, plywood and boards. One thermosetting plastic, melamine plastic, is widely used in worktop surfaces, high pressure-laminates, laminate flooring, wall panels, and ready-to-assemble furniture.
Some of the key players of the plastic industry in the UAE are the plastic manufacturers, plastic product manufacturers, plastic disposable product manufacturers, plastic card manufacturers (which provides plastic card printing solutions) and plastic fabricators. These manufacturing companies use high-end plastic processing machineries and plastic testing equipments to produce high quality plastic products. They also use state-of-the-art facilities for plastic plating, polyethylene fabrication and plastic extrusion.

Due to the exponential need and production of plastic products in the UAE, plastic waste collection and plastic recycling became a major issue. Some ways to recycle thermoplastics are by re-melting the material and by re-using it. On the other hand, thermoset plastics can be ground up and used as fillers. Another way to recycle plastics and plastic wastes is by converting it to fuel. Since plastic is made of crude oil, it can be broken down to liquid hydrocarbon and then further used as a fuel. Currently, the UAE has a nationwide campaign to be a plastic bag-free country. To reduce the non-biodegradable plastic bags, the UAE promotes the use jute bags, paper bags and oxo-biodegradable plastics.

One problem in plastic waste collection is the difficulty to automate the sorting of plastic wastes. This sorting is done manually by looking at the resin identification code of a plastic material. In the UAE, new processes of mechanical sorting are being developed to increase the capacity and efficiency of plastic recycling. << Hide