Plastic cup

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/plastic-cup

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary polymers used?Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
2. What is the dominant manufacturing methods?Injection molding and blow molding
3. What are plastic cups made from?Plastic cups are made from petroleum‑based polymers like polypropylene, PET, and high‑density polyethylene.
4. How are plastic cups manufactured?They are usually made by injection molding, where melted plastic is poured into a mold, or by blow molding, where air inflates a heated tube against a mold.

Polymer: A large molecule composed of repeating structural units, forming the basis of plastics.
Injection Molding: A high-volume manufacturing process for producing plastic parts by injecting molten plastic into a mold.
Biodegradable Plastics: Plastics designed to break down naturally in the environment over time.
Circularity: An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources.