OSKAR PLAST A career in plastics

BEFORE YOU WATCH

1. When you go shopping, do you bring along your own bags or do you buy plastic carrier bags? How much do you pay for them?

2. What are the ecological issues surrounding the use of plastic bags for shopping? Discuss. What is your opinion about the use of plastic bags for shopping?

3. Today, there are several communities around the globe that have passed ordinances to ban the use of plastic bags in stores. Do you think this is a good solution to the problem of plastic waste? Why or why not?

Exercise 1

1. The speaker was not very successful in his job so his employers made him leave.

2. To start his own business, he had to borrow money from his father.

3. The first turnover of his company was 300.000 crowns whereas now it is 300 million.

4. The company supplies bags to Czech retail chains.

5. Polymer packaging materials are made from oil.

6. Bags from natural materials must be made much thicker than standard polymer bags.

7. There are three kinds of bags on the market.

8. The best are bags with additives because they break down in the environment in five years.

WHILE YOU WATCH Exercise 2Are these statements TRUE or FALSE?

Listen and fill in the gaps

Exercise 3

Match the English expressions with their Czech equivalent

AFTER YOU WATCHExercise 4

RESEARCH AND DEBATE• In small groups, RESEARCH and PREPARE a visual

and written research report on one of the three topics (see next slide) to PRESENT orally to the rest of the groups..

• Each group will begin by visiting Wikipedia and other Internet websites to find out more about HDP, PLD, LPD and polymers in general. Use primary and secondary sources for your research. Discuss and consult with other experts online and in your school (i.e. science and English teachers) to discover any first-hand information you can on the subject.

• DISCUSS the results of the research reports.

Exercise 5

RESEARCH TOPICS

• Topic 1: What are some of the ecological problems associated with using plastic in various waste products that support consumer culture? What are the dangers of their presence in the environment? What are the dangers of throwing away un-biodegradable products in the environment to wildlife, to the aquafers, to soil, and in landfill?

• Topic 2: hat are some environmental innovations for recycling plastic waste materials (i.e. plastic-eating bacteria, etc., shoes made from plastic bags, earthship housing made from plastic bottles, etc. )

• Topic 3: What is material science and what role does it play in solving environmental problems related to un-biodegradable plastic in the environment?

Exercise 5

DISCUSS AND DEBATE:

1. What are the pros and cons of using these kinds of polymers and other materials for plastic bags?

2. What kinds of solutions besides material innovations can be developed for reducing plastic waste in the environment?

3. What kinds of personal actions can you take to contribute to waste management and reduction of plastic bags?

FOLLOW-UP:

Develop a public awareness campaign with the research results to educate people to the dangers of using and throwing away plastic bags.

Exercise 5

Exercise 6