Plastics commonly mean a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that are used in a wide range of applications. Wherever you look, you’ll find plastics. We use plastic products to make our lives cleaner, simpler, safer and more enjoyable. We find plastic in packaging, clothing, buildings, medical devices, cars, smartphones, …
Plastics are organic materials, just like wool or wood. The raw materials with which the plastics are produced are natural products such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and, of course, oil. Plastics have become the modern material par excellence because they allow modern needs to be balanced with environmental problems.
The term “plastic” comes from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means suitable to be modeled, this refers to the malleability or plasticity of the material during production, which can be melted, molded or extruded in a variety of forms, including films , fibers, plates, tubes, bottles and boxes.
Source: www.plasticseurope.org
