Sofia Martinez
Plastic has become an integral part of modern life, with its production skyrocketing since the 1950s. However, its history goes back further, with the first man-made plastic, Parkesine, being invented by Alexander Parkes and patented in 1862. This plastic, derived from cellulose and nitric acid, was a cheap substitute for ivory and marked the beginning of the plastic story. The world's first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland, and it was this invention that sparked a consumer revolution and the world's obsession with plastic. The rest, as they say, is history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First man-made plastic | Parkesine, invented by Alexander Parkes in 1855 |
| First fully synthetic plastic | Bakelite, invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907 |
| Plastic production from 1950 to 2017 | 9.2 billion tonnes |
| Plastic production in 2021 | 400 million tonnes |
| Plastic waste from start of production to 2015 | 6.3 billion tonnes |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled as of 2015 | 9% |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled more than once as of 2015 | 1% |
| Percentage of plastic waste incinerated as of 2015 | 12% |
| Percentage of plastic waste in landfills or polluting the environment as of 2015 | 79% |
| Annual plastic waste entering oceans as of 2015 | 8 million tonnes |
| Plastic production in 2019 | 459 million tonnes |
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What You'll Learn
The first man-made plastic, Parkesine, was invented in 1855
Parkesine was a cheap and colourful substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell, and its invention came at a time when some animal-derived materials were becoming increasingly scarce due to industrialised goods production. For example, elephants were facing extinction due to the demand for their ivory, which was used in items such as piano keys and billiard balls.
Although Parkesine was a significant invention, Parkes himself did not achieve commercial success. It was left to others, such as the Hyatt brothers, to profit from the material. They added camphor to improve the plastic's malleability and renamed it celluloid in 1870, thus providing the raw material for the film industry.
The world's first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907 by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland. This invention marked the start of the world's obsession with plastic, as it could be moulded into various shapes and was resistant to electricity and heat. Bakelite sparked a consumer boom in affordable yet highly desirable products, and its mass production contributed to the surge in the plastic market.
Since the birth of the plastic industry in the 1950s, global production has increased rapidly, with more than half of the total plastic produced since 2004. Plastic has revolutionised many sectors, becoming a material the world can't live without. However, this has come at a cost, with a plastic pollution crisis emerging alongside the material.
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Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, was invented in 1907
The creation of plastics marked a turning point in materials science, with Bakelite being the first fully synthetic plastic, invented in 1907. This groundbreaking innovation was pioneered by Belgian-American chemist Dr. Leo Baekeland, who combined phenol and formaldehyde under heat and pressure to produce a hard, mouldable material. This creation was significant as it effectively replaced shellac, a natural resin, as an electrical insulator.
Baekeland's initial experiments centred on creating a wood coating or strengthening wood using synthetic resins. He eventually turned his focus to developing a synthetic resin that could be impregnated into wood. On June 18, 1907, Baekeland began documenting the results of his tests, marking the birth of Bakelite.
Bakelite's unique properties, versatility, and affordability led to its mass production and widespread use. It found applications in diverse fields, including electronics, jewellery, and cookware. The success of Bakelite inspired the development of other synthetic plastics, and it remains an important milestone in the history of industrial design.
The plastics industry underwent significant growth, particularly during World War II, when the production of synthetic alternatives became a priority. Plastics provided substitutes for scarce natural resources, such as nylon replacing silk and plexiglass replacing glass in aircraft windows. The surge in plastic production continued in the postwar years, with Americans embracing plastic products due to their convenience and affordability.
However, the reputation of plastics began to change in the 1960s and 1970s as concerns grew about waste and environmental pollution. The realisation that plastic debris was accumulating in the oceans and the awareness of environmental problems led to a shift in perceptions. Despite the decline in the use of Bakelite in favour of more advanced polymers, it remains a significant chapter in the evolution of plastics, influencing modern product manufacturing and industrial design.
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The birth of the plastic industry occurred in the 1950s
The real expansion of the plastics industry, however, took place during World War II. The war created a significant demand for durable, lightweight, and inexpensive materials that could be produced quickly. Plastics fit the bill perfectly, and their production skyrocketed. Nylon, for instance, was invented by Wallace Carothers in 1935 as a synthetic silk and found extensive use during the war for parachutes, ropes, body armour, and helmet liners. Plexiglas replaced glass in aircraft windows, and PVC was used for canvas and water-repellent coatings. The war effort led to a 300% increase in plastic production in the United States.
In the postwar years, plastics became increasingly prevalent in everyday life. They were used in packaging, building and construction, and a variety of other sectors. Injection moulding and thermoforming technologies allowed for the quick and affordable production of plastic goods, making luxury items more accessible to people worldwide. Plastic replaced paper and glass in packaging, steel in cars, and wood in furniture. Between 1950 and 2017, an estimated 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic were produced, with more than half of that amount being generated since 2004.
The optimism surrounding plastics began to wane in the 1960s as the environmental impact of plastic debris in the oceans came into view. Concerns about waste and the longevity of plastic in the environment led to a decline in plastic's reputation in the 1970s and 1980s. The plastic industry proposed recycling as a solution, but recycling rates for plastics have lagged behind those of other materials. As of 2021, global plastic production reached 400 million tonnes per year, and if current trends continue, annual production is projected to exceed 1.1 billion tonnes by 2050.
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Plastic production was accelerated by World War II
The production of plastic was accelerated by World War II due to a variety of factors. Firstly, the war created a need for easy-to-produce, durable supplies, and plastic fit the bill perfectly. It was lightweight, durable, and could be manufactured quickly and inexpensively. This was crucial as almost all production turned towards creating war materials, and traditional materials like steel and rubber were needed for the war effort. As a result, plastic was used to fill the gap in consumer goods. For example, combs, which were previously made from hard rubber, were now made from plastic, with the US Army requiring all combs issued to servicemen to be made of plastic.
Secondly, the United States invested heavily in the plastics industry during the war, providing over a billion dollars to private companies. This led to the construction of more plastic manufacturing companies and refineries, increasing the country's plastic production capacity. The industrial might proved to be just as important as military success, and the production of synthetic alternatives to scarce natural resources became a priority. Nylon, invented before the war in 1935, was used extensively during the war for parachutes, ropes, body armour, and helmet liners. Plexiglas, another plastic, provided an alternative to glass for aircraft windows.
The surge in plastic production continued after the war ended, with Americans now having more money to spend. Plastic goods became sought-after for home decorations, furnishings, and appliances. The plastics industry also worked with women's magazines to promote plastic home goods. As a result, the industry experienced significant growth between 1946 and 1960, with plastic surpassing aluminium in production by 1960. Thus, World War II played a pivotal role in accelerating plastic production and shaping its widespread use in the post-war era.
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The environmental impact of plastic has been detrimental
The first man-made plastic, Parkesine, was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1855 and was manufactured from cellulose treated with nitric acid. The world's first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in New York in 1907 by Leo Baekeland, who coined the term "plastics". Mass production of plastics began in the 1940s and 1950s, and the industry has grown rapidly since. However, the environmental impact of plastic has been detrimental:
Plastic waste has become ubiquitous in natural and built environments, with serious consequences for both human and natural ecosystems. Plastic does not break down easily and can take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years or more to decompose, depending on environmental conditions. As a result, plastic waste accumulates in the environment, fragmenting into microplastics and nanoplastics that contaminate the air, water, and soil. These microplastics have been found in every ecosystem on the planet, from the Antarctic tundra to tropical coral reefs. They have also been detected in all sources of water, types of food, placentas of pregnant people, and human stool ever tested.
The ingestion or inhalation of microplastics can have severe health effects on humans and animals. Microplastics have been linked to chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and even stroke. More than 1,500 species in marine and terrestrial environments are known to ingest plastics, putting them at risk of suffocation or entanglement. Plastic waste also poses a threat to marine life by leaching toxic additives or concentrating toxins and pathogens in the environment, making them bioavailable for direct or indirect human exposure through the food chain.
The production and conversion of fossil fuels into new plastic products contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that plastic products were responsible for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 90% of these emissions coming from the production and conversion of fossil fuels. If trends continue, the World Economic Forum projects that by 2050, the global plastics industry will account for 20% of total oil consumption and up to 15% of global carbon emissions.
Recycling can help reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. However, recycling rates for plastic lag behind those of other materials such as aluminium, glass, and paper. Only about 9% of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled, and only a small fraction of plastic waste is economically or technically viable for recycling. The low recycling rates mean that most plastic waste ends up in landfills or pollutes the environment, contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic was first produced in 1855 by Alexander Parkes, who invented Parkesine, considered the first man-made plastic.
Parkesine was made from cellulose (the major component of plant cell walls) treated with nitric acid as a solvent.
The world's first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in New York in 1907 by Leo Baekeland.
Bakelite was made by combining formaldehyde and phenol, derived from coal tar, under heat and pressure.
World War II led to a great expansion of the plastics industry in the United States, with plastic production increasing by 300% during the war. Plastics were used in everything from military vehicles to radar insulation, and their use continued to grow in the postwar years.
