Plastic - Wikipedia
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms.

Plastic | Composition, History, Uses, Types, & Facts | Britannica
plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.

Plastic’s Hidden Price Tag: U.S. Faces Up to $1.1 Trillion in Annual ...
Plastic is everywhere in daily life in the United States, from synthetic fabrics to toys to disposable utensils, straws and bags. While plastic is cheap for the average consumer, its impacts cost Americans $436 billion to $1.1 trillion per year—and that’s likely an underestimate, according to a new report from Duke University scholars.

7 Main Types of Plastic: Properties, Uses & Impact
Explore the 7 main types of plastic, their properties, and environmental impact. Learn how plastic classification helps recycling and sustainable decisions.

The world’s plastic pollution crisis, explained - National Geographic
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, thanks to the overwhelming rise in production of disposable plastic products. Plastic pollution is most visible in...

About Plastic Products and Plastic Pollution | US EPA
Plastic products are generally versatile, durable and lightweight. Plastic products are prominent in the construction, transportation, and packaging industries. Plastic innovations contributed to many life-saving products that revolutionized the health care industry.

PLASTIC Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of PLASTIC is a plastic substance; specifically : any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments.

History and Future of Plastics - Science History Institute
Plastic is a word that originally meant “pliable and easily shaped.” It only recently became a name for a category of materials called polymers. The word polymer means “of many parts,” and polymers are made of long chains of molecules. Polymers abound in nature.

How Plastics Work - HowStuffWorks
In this article, we'll examine the chemistry of plastic, how it's made, how it's used, and how it's disposed of and recycled. We'll also look at some new biologically based plastics and their role in the future of plastic.

An Introduction to Plastics - Chemical Safety Facts
Plastic is a versatile material used to make thousands of products people use every day. Learn about the types of plastic classification, history and unique chemistry that gives plastic its variety of uses and applications.