A (Brief) History of the Rise of Single-use Plastics
Note: This was originally published on this blog in 2022. I’ve made some small tweaks and am re-sharing to make it easier to find!
Have you ever wondered, “Why was plastic invented?” or “Why was plastic made?” In this post, I’ll recap why plastic was invented and how it grew to become such a giant.
The invention of synthetic plastic in 1869 was revolutionary. Originally meaning “pliable and easily shaped”, the term ‘plastic’ is now the descriptor of polymers, long chains of molecules. Where before humans were constrained by what the natural world had to offer, plastic was touted as inexpensive, accessible, and a way to protect animals like elephants and tortoises from being killed for their ivory and hard shells. In fact, John Wesley Hyatt created the first synthetic polymer in the late 1860s because of the strain billiards placed on the natural ivory supply. Now, lower-income consumers could purchase a bevy of goods that were previously too expensive for them when made with natural resources.
A whole new category of consumer goods emerged with the rise of plastic.
As you can also probably guess, the oil and gas companies are also behind the rise in the popularity of plastic because they created the raw materials that makeup plastic.
In the early 20th century, petroleum and chemical industries began to form companies, and from that merger came giants like ExxonMobil and DuPont. Desiring to use oil and natural gas waste, these companies raced to innovate. The arrival of World War II necessitated the preservation of natural materials and placed an even bigger emphasis on the need for synthetic alternatives and plastic became the top substitute. During the war, plastic production in the U.S. increased by 300%. After World War II, plastic grew to replace the expensive materials comprising many throwaway items, like consumer packaging. Switching from paper or glass to plastic was cheaper and lighter weight, which customers initially appreciated
1907- Bakelite | 1907 Bakelite was invented and was the first completely synthetic plastic. It was durable, heat resistant, suited for mass production, and the first synthetic plastic that didn’t contain any molecules found in nature. After the success of Bakelite, other companies were inspired to spend more money and time researching synthetic plastic.
1933-Polyethylene | Originally discovered in 1922, polyethylene is a moisture-proof plastic that later would go on to be the bread and butter of packaging.
1933-Plexiglass | Plexiglass was invented as a glass alternative for aircraft windows.
1935-Nylon | Wallace Carothers invented nylon as a synthetic silk alternative. Nylon was used for parachutes, body armor, and more during WWII. When nylon stockings hit the market, customers went wild and stores sold out of the stock almost instantly.
1928-Teflon | In 1928, Teflon was created and boasted as a material that nothing would stick to.
1944-Styrofoam | In 1944, polystyrene would be puffed up with air to create a foamy plastic that DuPont would trademark as Styrofoam.
1953-High density Polyethylene | In 1953, polyethylene would be made in a higher density and this plastic would finally take off as the ubiquitous plastic grocery bag.
1965-Kevlar | Kevlar was invented as a fabric that could stop bullets.
1973-PET (polyethylene terephthalate) | Nathaniel Wyeth patented PET in 1973, which was developed initially to contain pressurized carbonated beverages. It’s also most used for single-use water bottles.
1979-Plastic grocery bags introduced in America | In 1986, a Los Angeles Times article has the marketing manager of Mobil Chemical Co. calling the plastic grocery bag the “last stronghold” in introducing plastic to the grocery market. Meat trays, ice cream, and egg cartons had already been converted into mostly plastic versions by this time.
As early as the 1960s, environmentalists were warning about the negative impacts of plastic. Yes, it was a lightweight and disposable option, but it was already clear that it was not breaking down and was instead just lingering in the environment. There was a push from the plastic industry to emphasize recycling, but only an estimated 9-10% of all of the plastic ever made is actually recycled. When it comes to recycling, one of the barriers is actually separating out the various kinds of plastic. When different materials are mixed, the new material is usually not able to be used. And even within the same category, like PET, the materials may have different melting temperatures. Chemical sorting of plastic would be more efficient and useful, but it’s too costly to scale and thus most recycling is done by hand.
There’s no denying that synthetic plastic was an incredible invention and has allowed human technology to advance in ways it otherwise might not have. In some industries, like healthcare, plastic is instrumental to cleanliness and efficiency. However, it’s far time to take a look at going back to the basics within other industries and just slowing down our overall level of production with others. The convenience and comfort that plastic gives us in all areas of our lives come with a steep cost.
in solidarity,
