
Plastic - Wikipedia
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be molded, extruded, or pressed into solid objects of various shapes.
Plastic | Composition, History, Uses, Types, & Facts | Britannica
Feb 25, 2025 · plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.
Plastic pollution | Definition, Sources, Effects, Solutions, & Facts ...
Feb 26, 2025 · Plastic pollution, harmful accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment. Plastics are persistent large-scale pollutants, and plastic debris (such as bottles, straws, containers, and plastic wrap) and particulates have been found in many environmental niches, from Mount Everest to the bottom of the sea.
Plastic pollution facts and information - National Geographic
Sep 23, 2024 · Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and pollution—and saved lives with helmets, incubators, and equipment...
Everything you need to know about plastic pollution
Apr 25, 2023 · Read our explainer to find out more about the plastic pollution crisis: Why is plastic pollution such a problem? Affordable, durable and flexible, plastic pervades modern life, appearing in everything from packaging to clothes to beauty products.
Plastic Pollution - Our World in Data
However, when plastic waste is mismanaged – not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills – it becomes an environmental pollutant. One to two million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans yearly, affecting wildlife and ecosystems.
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.
Impacts of Plastic Pollution | US EPA
Apr 23, 2024 · Plastic pollution has become ubiquitous in natural and built environments, raising concerns about potential harm to humans and nature alike. Once in the environment, research shows that plastic pollution is persistent and may take between 100 to 1,000 years or more to decompose, depending on environmental conditions.
An Introduction to Plastics - Chemical Safety Facts
A plastic is a type of synthetic or man-made polymer that is similar to natural resins found in trees and other plants. Polymers are any of various complex organic compounds produced by polymerization—a process in which small molecules combine to …
About Plastic Products and Plastic Pollution | US EPA
Nov 21, 2024 · 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.