Here in the UK, flooding from outlier weather events has become more common in the last decade. Early in 2024, the UK was battered by three back to back storms: Henk, Isha and Jocelyn – leaving homes flooded, without power, and whole communities in disarray. Sadly, climate change will only make this worse as time marches on.
But the natural disasters we face at home, devastating as they may be, pale in comparison to the deadly events that unfold overseas. Every year, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes and volcanoes wreak havoc on communities and surrounding habitats – not just causing destruction on a large scale, but ending countless lives.
How humanitarian and aid organisations respond to these disasters is crucial; too late, and more lives can be lost to the after effects of disasters. And there’s an unlikely ally in the fight to protect people and property after a disaster – polythene.
That’s because polythene packaging plays a vital role in disaster relief efforts – offering practical solutions to pressing problems. From protecting emergency supplies to providing waterproof materials for temporary shelters, polythene is an essential tool for responding to a disaster.
Polythene in emergency kits
Polythene packaging is often used in emergency kits distributed during disaster relief (after earthquakes, hurricanes or floods). These kits commonly contain food, medical supplies, clothing and other bare essentials, and polythene is a perfect material for the job of getting them where they need to go.
Its flexibility, durability and light weight make it ideal for transporting supplies in emergency scenarios where transport conditions are likely less than ideal, keeping the contents sterile, dry and undamaged. Packaging can also be overfilled with air and engineered to act as a floatation device – this not only prevents the aid from getting crushed in transit, it also stops it from sinking and can make carrying the pack through flooded areas easier.
Beyond small-scale relief kits, polythene has broad applications in disaster logistics. Large polythene bags and sections of polythene sheeting can protect bulk deliveries of food and water from moisture or contamination, getting critical supplies to those in need without sewage or other contaminants getting in.
Polythene sheeting: flood and mudslide control
Polythene sheeting isn’t just great for packaging supplies and aid – it’s an essential tool used in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather. During floods or heavy rainfalls, large sheets of polythene can be deployed to redirect water flow, channelling floodwaters away from residential areas and critical infrastructure. It’s fast, easy to work, easy to anchor and readily available. While it might not be 100% effective at holding back water, it’s fast; and in an emergency, speed is everything.
In some cases, polythene sheets are used to reinforce riverbanks or embankments, acting as a temporary levee that slows down the incoming water. It can be used in conjunction with sandbags to seal off doorways and windows on ground floors, to mitigate the ingress of floodwater.
Polythene sheeting can even prevent deadly mudslides. Believe it or not, these are some of the most devastating events that can occur during heavy rainfall, taking buildings down like they’re made of matches.
Attaching polythene sheeting to hillsides with sandbags, stakes or spikes, it can be used to redirect the flow of water to a designated runoff area – which itself can be a dugout lined with polythene (like a pond or pool) which prevents water from getting between top layers of soil and the harder material below.
By securing vulnerable soil and hillsides with polythene sheets, disaster relief teams can prevent loose earth from being washed away during storms – reducing the risk of landslides.
Temporary shelters and waterproofing
Polythene is also extensively used in the creation of temporary shelters for displaced people. Large sections of polythene can serve as temporary roofs, walls and ground coverings, or as makeshift tents. The waterproof properties of polythene ensure that these shelters remain dry, even during heavy rain.
In tropical climates and after hurricanes, where heavy rains can make already dire conditions worse, having quick access to waterproof and durable materials for shelter is essential.
Water isn’t the only thing polythene is good at blocking out, though. After volcanic eruptions, air quality plummets as ash and particles present a risk to health, especially to the already vulnerable. These hazardous particles that can be stirred up in the air for weeks after an eruption, and tend to impact more people than the initial eruption.
Polythene can help control air quality, by covering windows and doors in surrounding areas. This helps block out ash and debris from entering.
Recycling waste plastics for disaster relief
Waste plastics can become a hero in these situations – going from ecological nightmare to useful materials for disaster relief. Recycled polythene can be transformed into roofing materials, protective sheeting, flood redirection equipment or even insulation for temporary shelters.
Waste plastics could become a sustainable way to create life-saving materials for vulnerable communities, which has prompted aid organisations and governments to explore how reclaimed polythene can be used in both immediate disaster response and long-term rebuilding efforts. It’s a neat, circular economy solution to both waste management and disaster resilience.
Polythene for any application
Talk to the polythene experts at NPF Packaging – and start your order for polythene products made for any situation. Get a quote now, or call us on 01773 820415 to find out more about our manufacturing and design process.
