Enter the amount of plastic used per day, total number of days, rate of plastic recycling, total number of days plastic is recycled, rate of plastic composting, and total number of days plastic is composted into the calculator to determine the plastic footprint.
Plastic Footprint Formula
The following formula can be used to calculate the plastic footprint.
PF = (P * T) + (R * D) - (C * E)
Variables:
- PF is the plastic footprint
- P is the amount of plastic used per day
- T is the total number of days
- R is the rate of plastic recycling
- D is the total number of days plastic is recycled
- C is the rate of plastic composting
- E is the total number of days plastic is composted
To calculate the plastic footprint, multiply the amount of plastic used per day by the total number of days. Add to this the product of the rate of plastic recycling and the total number of days plastic is recycled. From this sum, subtract the product of the rate of plastic composting and the total number of days plastic is composted.
What is a Plastic Footprint?
A plastic footprint refers to the total amount of plastic a person, company, or country produces or consumes, contributing to plastic waste. It includes the plastic we use in our daily lives, from packaging single-use items to larger plastic goods. The concept is similar to a carbon footprint, and it’s a measure of the environmental impact of our plastic use, mainly how it contributes to pollution and affects ecosystems. Reducing our plastic footprint involves using less plastic and recycling more, to lessen the harm to the environment.
How to Calculate Plastic Footprint?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Plastic Footprint using the given formula:
- First, determine the amount of plastic used per day (P).
- Next, determine the total number of days (T).
- Next, determine the rate of plastic recycling (R).
- Next, determine the total number of days plastic is recycled (D).
- Next, determine the rate of plastic composting (C).
- Finally, determine the total number of days plastic is composted (E).
- After inserting the variables into the formula, calculate the Plastic Footprint (PF).
- Check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge:
Amount of plastic used per day (P) = 5
Total number of days (T) = 30
Rate of plastic recycling (R) = 0.5
Total number of days plastic is recycled (D) = 20
Rate of plastic composting (C) = 0.3
Total number of days plastic is composted (E) = 10
