--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Plastics, as a material, are very nasty…" description: "\"Plastics, as a material, are very nasty, but as an alternative to, let's say, a brick, which seems really natural, they start to look pretty good. They..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/271/greg-lynn-30171_alternative_plastics-as-a-material-are-very-nasty-bu_1407064.png" --- # Plastics, as a material, are very nasty, but as an… ![“Plastics, as a material, are very nasty, but as an alternative to, let's say, a brick, which seems really natural, they start to look pretty good. They're very low energy to produce, very lightweight to transport and construct. That's why they're so popular.” quote by Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/271/greg-lynn-30171_alternative_plastics-as-a-material-are-very-nasty-bu_1407064.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/271/greg-lynn-30171_alternative_plastics-as-a-material-are-very-nasty-bu_1407064.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/271/greg-lynn-30171_alternative_plastics-as-a-material-are-very-nasty-bu_1407064.png) > “Plastics, as a material, are very nasty, but as an alternative to, let's say, a brick, which seems really natural, they start to look pretty good. They're very low energy to produce, very lightweight to transport and construct. That's why they're so popular.” [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Plastics, despite environmental concerns, are attractive for construction due to low energy use, light weight, and transport efficiency. **In simple terms:** Plastics are practical for building but have environmental downsides. Key Takeaway Balance practicality with sustainability. Themes sustainability materials architecture energy environment Mood analytical forward‑looking Type design environmental When to use this quote - design - engineering - environmental impact Key Concepts lightweight construction energy efficiency material innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can we mitigate plastics’ ecological footprint? - What alternatives match plastics’ benefits? A Different Perspective Environmental impact remains a major challenge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative/) [Brick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brick/) [Brick Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brick-really-4947870/) [Construct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construct/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Lightweight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightweight/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Material Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-nasty-4947871/) [Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nasty/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Plastics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastics-1094824/) [Plastics Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastics-material-4947869/) [Popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular/) [Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty/) [Pretty good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-good/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Transport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transport/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [As sustainability becomes more and more of a concern, we're going to see more plastics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/as-sustainability-becomes-more-and-more-of-a-concern-we-re-going-to/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [I just want to say one word to you-just one word ..."plastics!" ... There's a great future in plastics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-henry/i-just-want-to-say-one-word-to-you-just-one-word-plastics-there-s-a/) [Buck Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-henry/) > [Recycling more plastics can help local businesses and expand jobs while supporting the goals of sustainability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/recycling-more-plastics-can-help-local-businesses-and-expand-jobs/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [In future, lots of things will be made from beans and fibres grown on the farmers' fields. This new science is called chemurgy. Plastics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/in-future-lots-of-things-will-be-made-from-beans-and-fibres-grown-on/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [When geologists announced the beginning of a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, humans destroying the environment, one of the main things they pointed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/when-geologists-announced-the-beginning-of-a-new-geological-epoch-the-2/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Obviously plastics have served very important purposes and been incredibly convenient but as we begin to witness the long-term consequences of the chemical components…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/obviously-plastics-have-served-very-important-purposes-and-been/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [When geologists announced the beginning of a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, humans destroying the environment, one of the main things they pointed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/when-geologists-announced-the-beginning-of-a-new-geological-epoch-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [A problem not so well understood is the growing presence of plastics in the marine food chain. If we don't make big changes fast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/a-problem-not-so-well-understood-is-the-growing-presence-of-plastics/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [It will be very hard to convince everyone in the world to handle their plastics responsibly, but what we humans are very good in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyan-slat/it-will-be-very-hard-to-convince-everyone-in-the-world-to-handle/) [Boyan Slat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyan-slat/) > [From the time I started taking photographs, I started working with plastics. I've always treated plastic like it was marble or gemstone or fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-simmons/from-the-time-i-started-taking-photographs-i-started-working-with/) [Laurie Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-simmons/) > [Take something you really don't think about: Plastics in the ocean. I mean plastics in the ocean have an enormous ecological effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/take-something-you-really-don-t-think-about-plastics-in-the-ocean-i/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Manufacturers have long chosen plastic for their products on the basis of price and functionality., But creating a more sustainable relationship with plastics will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-freinkel/manufacturers-have-long-chosen-plastic-for-their-products-on-the/) [Susan Freinkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-freinkel/) > [I will be the UFC lightweight champion. Mark my words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-will-be-the-ufc-lightweight-champion-mark-my-words/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I'm gonna challenge Camacho, Rosario or anyone else who has the lightweight title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/i-m-gonna-challenge-camacho-rosario-or-anyone-else-who-has-the/) [Julio Cesar Chavez Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/) > [If you're a top 10 guy you should pay a top 10 guy or even a top 5 guy what he deserves, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/if-you-re-a-top-10-guy-you-should-pay-a-top-10-guy-or-even-a-top-5/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) ## More by Greg Lynn > [When my kids were toddlers, they had all these rotomolded plastic things. My life became surrounded by big, hollow plastic toys - from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/when-my-kids-were-toddlers-they-had-all-these-rotomolded-plastic/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [Before computers, you'd start designing using shapes of cubes. Now I can start with something like a handkerchief, an object that doesn't have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/before-computers-you-d-start-designing-using-shapes-of-cubes-now-i/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [A very big percentage of small-scale construction is plastic. But its some horrible beige plastic made to look like wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/a-very-big-percentage-of-small-scale-construction-is-plastic-but-its/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [To go back to architecture, whats organic about architecture as a field, unlike product design, is this whole issue of holism and of monumentality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/to-go-back-to-architecture-whats-organic-about-architecture-as-a/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [It's incredibly exciting to know people are using and living with the things I create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/it-s-incredibly-exciting-to-know-people-are-using-and-living-with-the/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [I always try to think in curves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/i-always-try-to-think-in-curves/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [With everything that I design, from a church to a plate to skyscraper to a spoon. I am always thinking about voluptuous volumes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/with-everything-that-i-design-from-a-church-to-a-plate-to-skyscraper/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [The clothes I like are not necessarily tailored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/the-clothes-i-like-are-not-necessarily-tailored/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [As sustainability becomes more and more of a concern, we're going to see more plastics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/as-sustainability-becomes-more-and-more-of-a-concern-we-re-going-to/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [Without a computer, every point on a structure has to be calculated with reference to everything else. But by using a PC, I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/without-a-computer-every-point-on-a-structure-has-to-be-calculated/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [It's most satisfying to have an effect on the public realm - deep down I think it's what every architect wants to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/it-s-most-satisfying-to-have-an-effect-on-the-public-realm-deep-down/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [What's interesting about architects is, we always have tried to justify beauty by looking to nature, and arguably, beautiful architecture has always been looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/what-s-interesting-about-architects-is-we-always-have-tried-to/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [By supporting all the links in the building chain and giving them an easy, intuitive tool for sharing model-based project information, GTeam enhances workflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/by-supporting-all-the-links-in-the-building-chain-and-giving-them-an/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [It's tens of millions of calculations just to design one connection between a piece of structural steel and another piece of structural steel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/it-s-tens-of-millions-of-calculations-just-to-design-one-connection/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) > [I really like the pop culture materials of everyday life, but used in some way that elevates them to something you notice and care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lynn/i-really-like-the-pop-culture-materials-of-everyday-life-but-used-in/) [Greg Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) [Explore all 17 Greg Lynn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lynn/) ## More Alternative quotes > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. 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Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/) [Don Chipp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-chipp/) > [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It's American Alternative radio stations that bug me. 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