History of Plastic Production

When Was Plastic Pollution First Noticed?

Scientists studying plankton first noticed plastic pollution in the ocean in the early 1930’s. This was regarded as the first recorded incident of plastic pollution. Scientists were working on a project and were the first to find a single-use plastic bag off the coast of Ireland. The impact of plastic packaging and other sources of plastic pollution has a significant impact on marine animals. Ingestion of plastics has been recorded in many marine species since the 1990s, but scientists estimate plastic pieces have polluted marine stomachs since plastics first entered the marine environment. Since then, plastic pollution discoveries have become more devastating. Charles Moore discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 1997 while competing in the Transpacific Yacht Race. 

Today oceans and beaches still receive the most attention of those aiming to reduce plastic pollution, but how long has plastic been an issue? 

The Invention of Plastic

Nearly a century ago, Alexander Parkes demonstrated his invention “Parkensine” at the Great International Exhibition in London (1862). This moment in history marked the first production of a plastic material. Parkensine was an organic material made from cellulose that once heated, could be moulded and retained its shape when cooled. This was the start of the production of ‘polymers’ (plastics). 

Plastic Production Timeline 

In 1909, Leo Baekeland made something very special called "Bakelite." It was the very first kind of plastic that didn't have any natural stuff in it. He wanted to find a way to make a fake version of shellac, which was a material used to insulate electrical things. The United States was getting lots of electricity, so they needed something new. Bakelite was really strong, could handle heat and was perfect for making lots of things quickly. They called it "the material of a thousand uses" because it could be shaped into almost anything you can imagine. It was like magic! Bakelite was the first ever synthetic plastic that changed the world and gave us so many possibilities.

Reusing Plastic
Plastic has this incredible ability where it can be cleaned, reused and recycled many times. Since plastic has an important role in our lives, adapting how we use and dispose of plastic can have a significant impact on our environment. 

Credits:

Information adapted from Plastic Collective: https://www.plasticcollective.co/history-of-plastic-production/

Table 1 from Plastic Collective: https://www.plasticcollective.co/history-of-plastic-production/