This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of plastic containers.
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IELTS Essay: Plastic Containers
In many countries, plastic containers have become more common than ever and are used by many food and drink companies.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Using plastic containers for various food products has become ubiquitous in recent decades. Though this has potential drawbacks for the environment, I believe it does not outweigh the benefits to businesses and individuals.
The environmental cost of disposable plastic containers is massive. Before plastics, foods and drinks were typically put into biodegradable, eco-friendly paper or cardboard. The arrival of plastics has impacted the environment on two major fronts. Firstly, plastic itself is a fossil fuel byproduct that requires crude oil for its production and later transportation. The emissions from fossil fuels are often cited as the chief contributor to the hastening of climate change. Moreover, the containers themselves either find their ways to landfills, polluting previously pristine land, or end up in the ocean, forming ‘land masses’ that are injurious to marine life.
Nonetheless, the concomitant problems of plastic containers listed above do not override their usefulness. For companies, using plastic containers is cheap and allows for uniform consistency. This is the reason why they have been adopted by companies ranging from fast food giants like McDonald’s to local grocery chains. This savings is then passed on to the consumer who enjoys cheaper prices and the many conveniences of plastic containers. They are less likely to rip open and spill compared with paper and most families make use of them afterwards for leftover food. If plastic containers for food items were banned not only would people lose these conveniences but many companies would have to radically alter their packaging, and potentially, products themselves.
In conclusion, the environmental impact of plastic containers does little to undermine their value for both corporations and the average customer. It is instead important to explore innovations to make plastics more environmentally friendly.
Analysis
1. Using plastic containers for various food products has become ubiquitous in recent decades. 2. Though this has potential drawbacks for the environment, I believe it does not outweigh the benefits to businesses and individuals.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Give your opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The environmental cost of disposable plastic containers is massive. 2. Before plastics, foods and drinks were typically put into biodegradable, eco-friendly paper or cardboard. 3. The arrival of plastics has impacted the environment on two major fronts. 4. Firstly, plastic itself is a fossil fuel byproduct that requires crude oil for its production and later transportation. 5. The emissions from fossil fuels are often cited as the chief contributor to the hastening of climate change. 6. Moreover, the containers themselves either find their ways to landfills, polluting previously pristine land, or end up in the ocean, forming ‘land masses’ that are injurious to marine life.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Use short and long sentences.
- Use specific details.
- The more specific and the more results explained, the better!
- Fully explain any ideas you mention.
1. Nonetheless, the concomitant problems of plastic containers listed above do not override their usefulness. 2. For companies, using plastic containers is cheap and allows for uniform consistency. 3. This is the reason why they have been adopted by companies ranging from fast food giants like McDonald’s to local grocery chains. 4. This savings is then passed on to the consumer who enjoys cheaper prices and the many conveniences of plastic containers. 5. They are less likely to rip open and spill compared with paper and most families make use of them afterwards for leftover food. 6. If plastic containers for food items were banned not only would people lose these conveniences but many companies would have to radically alter their packaging, and potentially, products themselves.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea (the one that you agree with).
- Begin to explain your idea.
- Develop it fully.
- Keep stating further results.
- Add as much detail as you can.
- Don’t switch to a new main idea – just develop one fully.
1. In conclusion, the environmental impact of plastic containers does little to undermine their value for both corporations and the average customer. 2. It is instead important to explore innovations to make plastics more environmentally friendly.
- Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
- Include a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold mean?
Using plastic containers for various food products has become ubiquitous in recent decades. Though this has potential drawbacks for the environment, I believe it does not outweigh the benefits to businesses and individuals.
The environmental cost of disposable plastic containers is massive. Before plastics, foods and drinks were typically put into biodegradable, eco-friendly paper or cardboard. The arrival of plastics has impacted the environment on two major fronts. Firstly, plastic itself is a fossil fuel byproduct that requires crude oil for its production and later transportation. The emissions from fossil fuels are often cited as the chief contributor to the hastening of climate change. Moreover, the containers themselves either find their ways to landfills, polluting previously pristine land, or end up in the ocean, forming ‘land masses’ that are injurious to marine life.
Nonetheless, the concomitant problems of plastic containers listed above do not override their usefulness. For companies, using plastic containers is cheap and allows for uniform consistency. This is the reason why they have been adopted by companies ranging from fast food giants like McDonald’s to local grocery chains. This savings is then passed on to the consumer who enjoys cheaper prices and the many conveniences of plastic containers. They are less likely to rip open and spill compared with paper and most families make use of them afterwards for leftover food. If plastic containers for food items were banned not only would people lose these conveniences but many companies would have to radically alter their packaging, and potentially, products themselves.
In conclusion, the environmental impact of plastic containers does little to undermine their value for both corporations and the average customer. It is instead important to explore innovations to make plastics more environmentally friendly.
Answers
plastic containers bags, bottles, boxes, etc.
ubiquitous common
recent decades last 30 or so years
potential drawbacks possible disadvantages
outweigh stronger than
environmental cost hurts the environment
disposable plastic containers single-use plastics
massive huge
put into added to
biodegradable break down over time in nature
eco-friendly paper paper that is biodegradable
cardboard stronger paper
arrival onset
on two major fronts in two main areas
fossil fuel byproduct comes from fossil fuels
requires crude oil needs oil in its raw form
production making of it
emissions gases produced
often cited as commonly regarded as
chief contributor main cause
hastening of climate change speeding up of global warming
moreover also
landfills trash put in the ground
polluting previously pristine land contaminating nature
end up finally
forming ‘land masses’ making big collections
injurious harmful
marine life sea animals
nonetheless regardless
concomitant problems related issues
listed above mentioned before
override be stronger than
usefulness convenience
uniform consistency all the same
adopted by used by
fast food giants fast food restaurants
local grocery chains supermarkets
savings not wasting money
passed on to the consumer customers also save money
enjoys receives
less likely to rip open won’t tear
spill fall out of
make use of them afterwards use them again
banned not allowed
lose these conveniences not have the benefits
radically alter .change a lot
undermine their value hurt their importance
average customer a consumer
explore innovations find new ways
environmentally friendly good for nature
Pronunciation
ˈplæstɪk kənˈteɪnəz
ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪtəs
ˈriːsnt ˈdɛkeɪdz
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈdrɔːbæks
aʊtˈweɪ
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl kɒst
dɪsˈpəʊzəbl ˈplæstɪk kənˈteɪnəz
ˈmæsɪv
pʊt ˈɪntuː
ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈgreɪdəb(ə)l
ˈiːkəʊ-ˈfrɛndli ˈpeɪpə
ˈkɑːdbɔːd
əˈraɪvəl
ɒn tuː ˈmeɪʤə frʌnts
ˈfɒsl fjʊəl ˈbaɪˌprɒdʌkt
rɪˈkwaɪəz kruːd ɔɪl
prəˈdʌkʃən
ɪˈmɪʃənz
ˈɒf(ə)n ˈsaɪtɪd æz
ʧiːf kənˈtrɪbjʊtə
ˈheɪsnɪŋ ɒv ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ
mɔːˈrəʊvə
ˈlændfɪlz
pəˈluːtɪŋ ˈpriːviəsli ˈprɪstaɪn lænd
ɛnd ʌp
ˈfɔːmɪŋ lænd ˈmæsɪz
ɪnˈʤʊərɪəs
məˈriːn laɪf
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
kənˈkɒmɪtənt ˈprɒbləmz
ˈlɪstɪd əˈbʌv
ˌəʊvəˈraɪd
ˈjuːsfʊlnəs
ˈjuːnɪfɔːm kənˈsɪstənsi
əˈdɒptɪd baɪ
fɑːst fuːd ˈʤaɪənts
ˈləʊkəl ˈgrəʊsəri ʧeɪnz
ˈseɪvɪŋz
pɑːst ɒn tuː ðə kənˈsjuːmə
ɪnˈʤɔɪz
lɛs ˈlaɪkli tuː rɪp ˈəʊpən
spɪl
meɪk juːz ɒv ðɛm ˈɑːftəwədz
bænd
luːz ðiːz kənˈviːniənsɪz
ˈrædɪkəli ˈɔːltə .
ˌʌndəˈmaɪn ðeə ˈvæljuː
ˈævərɪʤ ˈkʌstəmə
ɪksˈplɔːr ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃənz
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntli ˈfrɛndli
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Using p_____________________s for various food products has become u______________s in r________________s. Though this has p_________________s for the environment, I believe it does not o_____________h the benefits to businesses and individuals.
The e____________________t of d______________________________s is m____________e. Before plastics, foods and drinks were typically p_____________o b_______________e, e_____________________r or c_________________d. The a_____________l of plastics has impacted the environment o_________________________s. Firstly, plastic itself is a f_____________________________t that r________________________l for its p_________________n and later transportation. The e_______________s from fossil fuels are o__________________s the c____________________r to the h___________________________e. M_____________r, the containers themselves either find their ways to l________________s, p______________________________d, or e________p in the ocean, f________________________s’ that are i______________s to m_____________e.
N________________s, the c_______________________s of plastic containers l________________e do not o_____________e their u_____________s. For companies, using plastic containers is cheap and allows for u_____________________y. This is the reason why they have been a_______________y companies ranging from f_________________s like McDonald’s to l_________________________s. This s____________s is then p_________________________r who e__________s cheaper prices and the many conveniences of plastic containers. They are l________________________n and s______l compared with paper and most families m__________________________________s for leftover food. If plastic containers for food items were b____________d not only would people l____________________________s but many companies would have to r________________________r their packaging, and potentially, products themselves.
In conclusion, the environmental impact of plastic containers does little to u___________________________e for both corporations and the a____________________________r. It is instead important to e________________________s to make plastics more e____________________________y.
Listening Practice
Learn more and improve your listening below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt9DRifRwn0&ab_channel=Howitsmade
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic too in case if it comes up on your IELTS exam:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51040155
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Environment
- Why do people throw rubbish the streets?
- How can people be encouraged to not litter?
- What are the results of littering?
- What steps has your government taken to make people pick up after themselves?
- Do the efforts of a single person have an impact on the world as a whole?
Writing Practice
Write about the related topic below and check with my sample answer:
Plastic shopping bags are used widely and cause many environmental problems. Some people say they should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
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