A brief history of plastic.

It starts in 1839, when Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered the vulcanization of rubber by adding sulphur and heat. The result was a far more durable material — and it sparked the production of semi-synthetic goods made by modifying natural materials to make them more practical. The word plastic itself comes from the Greek plastikos, meaning capable of being shaped or molded.

Alexander Parkes, an English metallurgist and inventor, developed the first synthetic plastic, which he named Parkesine, in 1855. It was made from cellulose, was hard and transparent, and could be molded when heated. It was introduced in 1862 at the Great International Exhibition in London. It was initially used in a variety of applications, primarily as a replacement for animal products such as ivory, tortoiseshell, and horn — in the production of combs, buttons, and other small personal items, as well as a waterproof coating for fabrics. It was a brittle material, and susceptible to cracking and yellowing over time. It was overall a commercial failure, but it did lay the foundation for everything that followed.

In 1869, the New York firm Phelan and Collander offered a $10,000 prize to anyone who could find a substitute for ivory. The booming pastime of billiards was decimating elephant populations because of the demand for their ivory tusks. John Wesley Hyatt rose to the challenge and invented Celluloid. It was also made from cellulose, by treating cotton fiber with camphor. It was transparent, flexible, and moldable when heated. It found acceptance in making the same sort of products that Parkesine did. It was the first plastic to find broad commercial use. It became the foundation of the motion-picture industry, as it was also used as the first type of film used in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

In 1907, Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first true synthetic plastic. He was also the first to refer to his material as "plastic." It was made by polymerizing two molecules not found in nature, phenol and formaldehyde, and it could be molded into many shapes. It was superior to celluloid as it was heat-resistant, more durable, and was an electrical insulator. As such, it was used as an electrical insulator, for automotive parts, and all types of consumer goods.

Bakelite was a major breakthrough, and it (along with Catalin, a similar substance) paved the way for the development of modern plastics. Throughout the early-to-mid 20th century, new plastics arrived in close succession. Each was engineered for a specific job. Cellophane wrapped fresh foods. Acrylic replaced glass where lightness mattered. Polyethylene — one of the most produced plastics in the world today — became the workhorse of containers, films, and packaging.

During World War II, plastics played a crucial role in various military applications. They were used in aircraft parts, parachutes, helmets, windscreens, and other military equipment. The demand for plastics increased greatly during this period, leading to further research and advances in plastic technologies. By 1945, US plastic production had more than tripled from pre-war levels. The factories that built that capacity didn't disappear after the war — they just needed new markets. The necessary shift occurred from military applications to consumer products, as well as products for industry and construction. Plastics began to be used in a wide range of consumer goods — toys, appliances, packaging.

Initially, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, plastic consumer products were sold on their design and durability. The Great Depression of the 1930s had forced the populace to be frugal, and these early products reflected that taste. Dow's Styron and Monsanto's Lustrex Styrene were sold with claims of "new color, beauty, and serviceability," as well as "cheerful, convenient and practical." These products were easy to clean, durable, and built to last.

An iconic and dubious article appeared in the August 1, 1955 issue of Life Magazine, entitled "Throwaway Living." It featured the stereotypical "nuclear family" tossing single-use items into the air in a celebratory fashion.

The 1950s were a time of significant economic growth in the US — rising incomes, a booming manufacturing sector, technological advances, the shift to suburban life, and the rise of consumer culture. Convenience and efficiency dominated post-war values. The article itself pointed approvingly to the futility of spending 40 hours cleaning the items in the photo, when one could simply throw them away and spend that time on leisure instead.

Another dubious moment in the history of the plastic pollution crisis was the Society of the Plastic Industry's conference in New York in 1956. At that meeting, the editor of Modern Plastics, Lloyd Stouffer, declared that "the future of plastics is in the trash can." Think about that. In order for plastics manufacturers to ensure a continuous demand for their products, they needed to encourage customers to discard their products.

The disposable, single-use culture was born.

Seven years later, Stouffer spoke at the conference again in Chicago:

The story doesn't end with invention. Today we're living the consequences — and watching them compound.