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.

About Plastic Products and Plastic Pollution | US EPA
Plastic waste results from the production, use, and disposal of mono-material or multi-material plastic products. Mono-material products are made entirely from a single type of resin whereas multi-material products include one or more resin types, paper, or metal.

Plastic Pollution Impacts and Solutions | World Resources Institute
Plastics pose a wide range of hazards for people, ecosystems and the climate. Ninety-nine percent of plastics are made from fossil fuels and generate planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions throughout their lifecycles.

Plastic Pollution - Our World in Data
Improving the management of plastic waste across the world — especially in poorer countries, where most of the ocean plastics come from — is therefore critical to tackling this problem. This page presents all of our data and writing on plastic pollution.

Plastic Pollution Statistics: Key Facts and Data (2026)
Plastic pollution has become one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the world today. From oceans and rivers to food and drinking water, plastic waste is now found almost everywhere on Earth. In this page, we break down the latest plastic pollution statistics, including global trends, ocean impact, and the growing threat of microplastics. These data points highlight the ...

Everything you need to know about plastic pollution
Affordable, durable and flexible, plastic pervades modern life, appearing in everything from packaging to clothes to beauty products. But it is thrown away on a massive scale: every year, more than 280 million tonnes of short-lived plastic products become waste.

What is plastic? - Oceana USA
What is plastic? Plastics are polymers, that is, they’re large molecules made up of repeating smaller molecules known as monomers. Along with synthetic plastics, polymers exist in nature as well: the cellulose that makes up plant cell walls and even the DNA in your cells are types of polymers.

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.

Plastic Material Definition, Types, Uses, Recycling Tips
Worried about bisphenol A (BPA) and other plastic chemicals? Read about types of plastics, how they're made and what the resin identification (recycling) numbers mean.