History of Plastic
Plastic fragments and blended pellets from ADS. (Photo by Faith Forry)
This week I would like to delve into another facet of sustainability, regarding recycling and plastics education. What better place to start than at the beginning? I’d like to share research I completed on the general history of plastics while working at ADS Recycling. The history of plastic is a domino of events causing plastics to proliferate exponentially and become commonplace in all aspects of modern life – despite its modern-day environmental downfalls. Before the 1860s, the word plastic was merely an adjective synonymous with descriptions like malleable, workable, and pliable. Upon its creation, this novel polymer manifested this definition, effectively revolutionizing this word and our world forever.
Polymers can be found everywhere in nature, from the cellulose that constructs plant cell walls to the proteins that fuel our bodies. The word “polymer” comes from the Greek “polumeros” meaning “having many parts,” and its modern definition refers to a substance made of long chains of molecules. The incredible lengths and specific structures of synthetic polymers make them particularly lightweight, strong, and flexible (or plastic), making them especially useful [1].
At the London International Exhibition in 1862, Alexander Parkes debuted the first man-made plastic ever created called “Parkesine.” While trying to create a substitute for shellac (a resin produced by the Asian female lac bug) for waterproofing, Parkes unintentionally developed Parkesine, which would then be marketed as a synthetic alternative for horn and ivory. Although, the potential of this discovery was yet to be understood. In Albany, NY in 1869, John Wesley Hyatt devised a better way to manufacture Parkesine. By treating cotton fiber with camphor, Hyatt developed a plastic that could be molded into various shapes and fashioned to imitate natural materials like linen, horn, ivory, and tortoiseshell. With this discovery, humans were no longer bound by the limitations and scarcity of natural resources for the first time in history. Now, humans could create new materials, and this inexpensive celluloid could widely distribute material wealth.
At the turn of the century, electricity began to light up the country, and in 1907 Leo Baekeland was on the search for a synthetic alternative for shellac, which was used as an electrical insulator. In doing so, Baekeland invented the first plastic which was entirely synthetic called “Bakelite.” Bakelite functioned as a good insulator, and it was also durable, heat resistant, and could be mechanically mass-produced. Thus, Bakelite was marketed as a material with endless potential. After the massive success of celluloid and Bakelite, major chemical companies readily invested in the research and creation of new plastics [1].
Then, necessity drove innovation during World War II, as numerous plastics were developed to aid in the war efforts. In 1933, polyethylene (PE) was invented in England to insulate radar cabling, significantly decreasing the weight of British planes. Polystyrene (PS) became a substitute for rubber in styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), as rubber was scarce due to the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia. In 1939, DuPont released nylon as a synthetic alternative to silk hosiers, though it was soon rationed by the U.S. military for the production of ropes and parachutes. In 1941, a chemist accidentally invented expanded polystyrene (EPS), which became a thermal insulator and shock-absorber as it was sturdy yet lightweight. [2] As an alternative for glass, Plexiglas was used in aircraft windows. In all, plastic production increased by 300% in the U.S. during WWII.
Post-war, the focus switched to the consumer as plastics manufacturers repurposed the materials that had been created during the war, and, after enduring the Great Depression and a war, Americans were ready to spend. Due to this promising market and its endless potential, plastic readily replaced natural materials in everyday products — the steel in cars, wood in furniture, organic materials in our clothing, and glass and paper packaging. Plastic was inexpensive, sanitary, strong, and seemingly limitless [1].
In the 1950s, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was invented as a sturdy, chemical resistant plastic, with potential to be used for bottles, pipes, and tubing. Unfortunately, initial production lots did not prove to be as consistent as the lab samples, so its introduction to the market was less than successful. With warehouses rapidly filling with HDPE, the hula-hoop craze of the late 1950s swooped in to save the day. The production of this toy allowed manufacturers to stay in business long enough to improve the HDPE material for use in other products.
In the 1950s, polyester was developed, and in 1954, polypropylene became a commodity. Polysulfone thermoplastics were debuted in 1965, famously featuring as the gold-filmed visors on space suits. In the same year, Kevlar (para-aramid synthetic fiber) was also introduced to replace steel in racing tires, though it has found many other uses, famously being bulletproof vests [2].
Despite its prolific evolution and revolutionary innovations which have advanced society, by the 1960s, the unquestioning optimism surrounding plastic was beginning to wane. The 1960s brought with it an awareness of environmental issues. For the first time, plastic was observed in our oceans. A major oil spill off the Californian coast in 1969 and a fire on the polluted Cuyahoga River in Ohio fueled justified environmental concern amongst the American people. Plastic waste became a primary issue, and the word whose definition once meant flexibility and whose embodiment was revered for its strength and potential soon evolved an additional connotation— cheap, artificial, or frail. Although, by the 1980s, the plastics industry presented recycling as a solution to this growing skepticism. By encouraging municipalities to incorporate the collection and processing of plastic waste into their waste management programs, the plastics industry spearheaded a transformation of the industry itself.
Plastic has become undeniably essential to modern life as it has revolutionized modern technology and medicine. With plastic, many of our possessions have become cheaper, safer, and stronger. Plastic has made goods accessible to all classes of Americans and has consequently improved the standard of living for all. Through innovations like bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, and innovations within the recycling process, scientists and researchers have been working towards a safer, more sustainable future. [1] The story of plastic is one which is everchanging; its evolution has brought us to where we are today, and continuing innovation will take us into the future.
Written by Faith Forry — October 9, 2022
[1] History and future of plastics. Science History Institute. (2019, November 20).
[2] Admin, C. (2021, February 12). History of Plastics. Plastics Industry Association.
