Coronavirus Concerns Boost Shift Towards Single-Use Plastics

The coronavirus pandemic that has shaken the world and become the most important agenda item has highlighted the importance of single-use products from a hygiene perspective. Those seeking to protect themselves from the outbreak have turned to single-use plastic products from factories to homes. Single-use plastic products, with their hygienic, practical and economical features, have broken consumption records in the past two weeks. PAGEV Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu, stating that the plastics sector is operating at full capacity and will not leave shelves empty; "Turkey ranks as the world's third largest player in single-use plastic exports, after China and Italy. Our factories producing single-use plastic products are working at full capacity to meet rising demand both domestically and internationally," he said. The coronavirus pandemic continues to pose a threat to the entire world. While scientists continue work on medicines and vaccines to combat the virus, emphasis is being placed on the fact that hygiene is the most effective way to protect against the outbreak. Fear of the virus has driven demand for single-use plastic products to peak. Single-use plastic products such as cups, plates, forks, spoons and knives, previously preferred mainly in fast food outlets, cafes, tea gardens, hospitals and picnics, are now being consumed in homes and factories due to concerns about the infectious disease.

Single-use plastics preferred in quarantine areas

Yavuz Eroğlu, Chairman of the Turkish Plastics Manufacturers Research, Development and Education Foundation (PAGEV), commenting on the matter, said: "Now no one wants to eat or drink from a plate, cup, fork or knife used by someone else. Products manufactured and packaged untouched on fully automatic machines, being used for the first time and having not been touched by anyone else previously, are extremely hygienic in these respects. To prevent the spread of coronavirus within hospitals, only single-use plastic products are preferred by doctors, staff and patients. This has led to increased demand for single-use products in hospitals. As in Turkey, mass quarantine areas around the world use only single-use plastic products. In dormitories where passengers returning from Umrah this week have been placed in quarantine, all beverages and food are being served with single-use plastic products. Therefore, this characteristic is quite important during these days of infectious disease concerns. Our goal is to ensure that our products, which have an important role in preventing the outbreak, reach our consumers continuously in the easiest and most affordable way."

Everyone seeking hygiene has turned to single-use products

Yavuz Eroğlu, drawing attention to the importance of single-use plastic products from a hygiene perspective, stated: "Following warnings from doctors, while the number of people isolating themselves for protection is increasing, there is now a shift towards single-use plastic products in homes to prevent the spread of the disease. Factories that previously used porcelain plates or metal dining containers have switched to single-use plastic containers for collective food consumption with the coronavirus outbreak."

Strong demand from Israel

Emphasizing that the increased demand over the past two weeks due to virus concerns has occasionally led to single-use plastic products selling out on supermarket shelves and in retail, Eroğlu continued his remarks as follows: "Turkey ranks as the third largest player in exports in this field, after China and Italy. Our factories producing single-use plastic products are working at full capacity to meet rising demand both domestically and internationally. There is particularly strong demand from Israel. The demand for single-use plastic products among people isolating themselves in their homes in Israel has led to an explosion in usage. While Israel accounts for 25 percent of Turkey's single-use plastic exports, making it the country to which Turkey exports the most single-use plastic products, it is followed by France, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2019, we produced TRY 2,105 million worth of single-use plastic products. Domestic consumption of single-use plastic products in 2019 was TRY 1,185 million, while exports in the same period reached TRY 960 million. Our country is a net exporter in this field. Last year, single-use plastic product imports remained at only TRY 38 million."

Plastics sector serves the health sector with its products

PAGEV Chairman, noting that the plastics sector bears great responsibility in protecting public health, stated: "Coronavirus cases are increasing worldwide and the disease is becoming an increasingly large threat to public health. The plastics sector, cooperating with business partners throughout the entire supply chain, provides products that meet needs, enable patients to receive treatment, protect healthcare personnel, and prevent the spread of the outbreak through single-use cups, plates, forks, spoons and knives. Plastic products have long been the first choice of the health sector. One of the most important reasons for the reduction of epidemic diseases is these products. Plastic products enable us to live longer and healthier lives. The global plastics industry will provide all assistance to official authorities and public health officials in combating the coronavirus outbreak and will take its place in the front lines with its materials and products," he concluded.