Plastics 101

Monday started at 4 a.m. We drove 4 hours south to Leominster, Massachusetts to the National Plastics Center and Museum.



We were there to shoot exhibits of yesteryear plastic (from celluloid to bakelite to current medical applications) as well as the plastic pioneers who built our synthetic century. Luckily it was closed to the public and we had the run of the place – thanks Marianne!



And because the location had great backdrops for interviews, we invited a polymer chemist to give us a lesson in plastic basics – how it's made, the different kinds and why different materials serve the purposes they do.



Dr. John is from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and despite recently battling a case of pneumonia, more than adequately stepped up to the challenge.



He broke down plastic number 1 through 7 (you know, those triangles at the bottom of, say, a margarine container) and did it three times for different camera angles.



After lunch we re-set for a more formal interview on Dr. John's real passion – Green Chemistry. Simply put, this is a field of chemistry that trains new chemists to consider environmental and human health in the development of new materials. Apparently, chemists are not traditionally taught subjects like toxicology or endocrinology. For John, ignorance is precisely why products with nasty ingredients hit the shelves even though there may be perfectly better – and more benign – alternatives.




He has since developed the only PHD program in the USA (although Canada, Europe, India, China, and Japan are on it) and has written the authoritative book on the subject entitled, "Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice."



It was a long day so we agreed to return on Tuesday to get the last of broll from the museum. While taking still shots of the inventor of Bakelite, Leo Baekeland, Marianne mentioned that she was in contact with his great grandson.



Within a few hours we were sipping lemonade with Hugh and his mother, Celine.



Celine provided wonderful personal anecdotes, pictures and diary entries about her grandfather – who, after selling Bakelite to Union Carbide, spent the rest of his life traveling the world and enjoying his favourite pastime, sailing.



Most interesting, the ancestors of the man who invented a product that never disappears have become stout environmentalists. Celine even thought most of the imitation jewelry made from bakelite was cheap and obnoxious.



Many thanks go to our hosts for letting us into their homes and revealing some personality behind the history books.

Our final stop of the day would be NYC to celebrate Ian's birthday in style. We can only hope there's a break in the heat.




Out.

I+G