In todays world, Plastic has enjoyed exceptional growth and unparalleled dominance in the market, both in terms of its production and consumption. Human lifestyle and material consumption pattern has shown such remarkable change over the last 60 years in adopting plastic material that it has now reached into every aspect of our lives (2) From a tiny toothbrush to mighty computers, and most of the lifesaving advances of modern medicine and outer space pursuits, the plastic material dominants all. Widespread use of plastic has revolutionized manufacturing, making products more accessible and affordable to people worldwide. While its significance cannot be denied, the environmental impact of plastic waste remains a pressing challenge that calls for innovative solutions and responsible usage to ensure a sustainable future.
Originated from the Greek word "plastikos," this word “plastic” is something can be easily shaped or molded. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm’s offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. The growing popularity of billiards had put a strain on the supply of natural ivory, obtained through the slaughter of wild elephants. The material invented by Hyatt could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory. Hence, when the polymer was introduced, it was ironically considered as the ‘savior of the elephants and tortoise’.
The plastics revolution was only getting started. After the discovery of the synthetic plastic, for the first-time human manufacturing was not constrained by the limits of nature. Nature had a limit to the amount of the wood, metal, stone, bone, tusk, and horn that it could supply. But now humans could create new raw materials. This development helped not only people but also the environment. The creation of new materials helped free people from the social and economic constraints imposed by the scarcity of natural resources. Material possession became much cheaper and more obtainable. In 1907 Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, meaning it contained no molecules found in nature. In pursuit of a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, Baekeland invented the material and named it Bakelite. The insulating property, durability, heat resistance, and its affordability ideally suited for mechanical mass production. Bakelite was marketed as “the material of a thousand uses,” as it could be shaped or molded into almost anything, providing endless possibilities. This was just the beginning of the plastic revolution.
Soon, Hyatt’s and Baekeland’s successes led major chemical companies to invest in the research and development of new polymers, and new plastics joined celluloid and Bakelite family. In World War II, the plastic material consumption and production became more revolutionary. Nylon, synthetic silk, was used for parachutes, ropes, body armor, helmet liners, and more. Plexiglas was used as an alternative to glass for aircraft windows. The World War II led to the plastic production in the United States increased by 300% as with plastics, material production was much cheaper and convenient. (1) After the war, the industry continued to expand during the 1950s and 1960s. Almost every natural product was no longer essential to manufacturing processes. From car manufacturing to packaging and furniture, plastics were used everywhere. Plastic items were marketed as ‘luxurious’, ‘comfortable’ and ‘fashionable’. Single use packaging and cutleries were marketed to women and housewives as a respite from household chores and mundane activities.
However, soon the unblemished optimism about plastics didn’t last. In the postwar years, there was a shift in perceptions as plastics were no longer seen as unambiguously positive. Plastic debris in the oceans was first observed in the 1960s, a decade in which people started becoming aware of environmental problems. As awareness about environmental issues spread, the persistence of plastic waste, its non-degradability and its ominous presence began to trouble observers. Environmental concerns regarding its management post use and its slow degradability became the major issue.
Despite growing mistrust, plastics have become a critical part of our modern life. It has made possible the development of computers, cell phones, and most of the lifesaving advances of modern medicine. Lightweight and good for insulation, plastics help save fossil fuels used in heating and in transportation. Perhaps most important, inexpensive plastics raised the standard of living and made material abundance more readily available. Replacing natural materials with plastic has made many of our possessions cheaper, lighter, safer, and stronger. The light weight and flexible nature of plastics. Its use has made some of our wildest scientific ventures come true like spaceship, health and safety and modern technology. Since it’s clear that plastics have a valuable place in our lives, it is our responsibility to make plastics safer and more sustainable in the longer run.
