Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse …

Jan 24, 2026 · plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.

Oct 31, 2025 · Plastic products are generally versatile, durable and lightweight. Plastic products are prominent in the construction, transportation, and packaging industries. Plastic innovations …

Dec 3, 2025 · Editor’s note: This page was updated on Feb. 6, 2026, to correct the modelled years of healthy life lost from open burning and to fix other minor errors and typos. Preface In 2020, The Pew …

Plastic is a versatile material used to make thousands of products people use every day. Learn about the types of plastic classification, history and unique chemistry that gives plastic its variety of uses …

Dec 4, 2025 · UNEP supports governments, businesses, financial institutions, and other stakeholders in driving a just transition to a circular economy for plastics, helping to reduce plastic pollution and its …

Nov 18, 2025 · Plastic coverage from Scientific American, featuring news and articles about advances in the field.

May 28, 2025 · Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, thanks to the overwhelming rise in production of disposable plastic products. Plastic pollution is most visible in...

Improving the management of plastic waste across the world — especially in poorer countries, where most of the ocean plastics come from — is therefore critical to tackling this problem. This page …

21 hours ago · Plastic pollution is often framed as a waste management problem: too much plastic, used too briefly and discarded too carelessly. However, research shows that this framing misses a critical …