Plastic is a type of synthetic material or semi-synthetic material primarily made of oil, fossil fuels, coal, salt, and more. Plastics are an essential part of today's society, used in almost every field of work and aspect of our lives, including medicine, shopping, shipping, transportation, agriculture, and more. There are several different types of plastic with various uses and qualities. Because of their malleable and other positive properties, plastics are some of the most popular materials in the US and the world. Some of the most common types of plastic are PET (used for plastic bottles and food containers), PLA (a plant-derived, carbon-based polymer), cellophane (used in packaging), latex, and rubber (used in clothes and several other things).
Before plastic was chemically modified and into the material we know it as today, some formed naturally. The use of these plastics dates back to about 3,500 years ago in ancient Mesoamerica, where the Olmecs of Mexico used a type of tree sap to form rubber balls. The first synthetic polymer was developed in 1869 for a New York firm, searching for a substitute for ivory. Ivory was a very sought-after material found in elephant trunks, which used to be used to create several items such as knife handles, keys, toys, balls for billiards, and more. Before plastic, elephants were hunted for their tusks (a practice that continues today), which is part of the reason why multiple species are currently classified as endangered. The growing demand for billiard balls put a strain on the supply of ivory available, so people began to search for substitutes. By treating cellulose with camphor, the first plastic was made.
At the time, the discovery was revolutionary and quickly went into high demand. The plastic could imitate various materials found in nature (such as tortoise shells, horns, linen, and of course, ivory), and for the first time, humans were no longer bound by the materials nature provided. Not only was the plastic highly useable, but also praised as a great alternative to save the environment. It cut down the slaughtering of several animals, like elephants and turtles, for their resources.
Plastic production began to take off during WWII, as it proved to play a big part in the US victory. Parachutes, aircraft windows, ropes, body armor, helmet liners, and more were all invented by recently developed synthetic fibers and plastics (of the time) like Nylon and Plexiglass. During the war, plastic production in the US increased by an astounding 300%. The surge in plastic use during WWII continued after the war because of the American population's willingness to buy it. American people were in favor of plastic over its alternatives, and it began to replace materials that spanned beyond ivory, like paper in packaging, steel in cars, wood in furniture, and more. The growing use of plastic gave some observers an almost utopian vision of a future with great material wealth and a stronger grip on our world.
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