ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT OF POLYMERS

Inside ecosystems, natural and synthetic polymers have a special place with respect to both environmental pollution and protection. They pla y a double role, as remedy for pollution, and as pollutants themselves . Starting from the literature data and also from our own results, a d iscussion is initiated on the conditions of pollution reduction and tu rning of the polymeric wastes into possible sources of raw materials a nd/or energy, and on some of the criteria that might be applied in des igning of environmentally-compatible polymeric materials, as well.