ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Plastic, explained simply.
Plastic is not one single material. It is a family of materials with different properties, different uses and different roles in everyday life.
Understanding what plastic is — and why we use it — is the first step towards understanding how it can be used better.
PLASTIC 101
One name. Many different materials.
Plastic is made from polymers, but not all plastics are the same. Some are lightweight and flexible. Others are strong and rigid. Some are transparent, food-safe or resistant to moisture. Others can withstand impact, insulate electrical components or perform in demanding industrial environments. That is why different plastics are used for different purposes.
Why Do We Use Plastic?
Plastic is not used simply because it is convenient. It is used because different applications need different combinations of protection, weight, safety, durability and cost.
It protects
Plastic can help protect food, medicine and everyday products from contamination, moisture, damage and breakage. In packaging, that can also help extend shelf life and reduce product waste.
It makes things lighter
Its low weight can make products easier and more efficient to transport, reducing the amount of material and energy needed to move them
It makes essential products more accessible
Plastic can offer an affordable way to protect, store and distribute products at scale. In places where safe drinking water is not readily available, for example, lightweight plastic bottles can make water easier to transport and distribute than many heavier, breakable alternatives.
Different plastics. Different jobs.
The word “plastic” covers many different materials. Each has its own properties and is better suited to particular applications.
PET
Lightweight, strong and transparent. Commonly used for beverage bottles, food packaging and other applications where clarity and barrier properties matter.
HDPE
Strong, durable and resistant to moisture and chemicals. Often used for bottles, household products and industrial applications.
PP
Lightweight, durable and resistant to heat. Used in packaging, food containers, automotive components and many everyday products.
LDPE
Flexible and lightweight. Common in films, bags and flexible packaging.
PVC
Durable and versatile. Used in construction, medical applications, cables and other long-life products.
PS
Rigid or foamed, depending on the application. Used in packaging, insulation and selected consumer products.
PS
Rigid or foamed, depending on the application. Used in packaging, insulation and selected consumer products.
Plastic has value before, during and after use.
US$80–120 billion
in material value is estimated to be lost each year when plastic packaging is landfilled, incinerated or leaked instead of being effectively recycled.
Its value does not end when a product becomes empty.
When plastic is properly designed, collected, sorted and recycled, it can become raw material again. When it is lost from the system, that material value is lost too.
EXPLORE MORE
Myths & Misconceptions
Plastic is surrounded by assumptions.
Is all plastic bad for the environment?
Does recycling really work?
Are reusable alternatives always better?
Some questions have simple answers. Others need a little more context.
Explore common myths and the facts behind them.
Facts & Figures
A few numbers put the conversation into perspective.
36%
of plastics produced globally are used in packaging.
42.1%
of plastic packaging waste generated in the EU was recycled in 2023.
3.4%
of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to plastics, according to the OECD.
Explore more facts and figures
Glossary
The language of plastic, made clearer.
Polymer. Recyclable. Recycled content. Biobased. Biodegradable. Compostable. Microplastics. Circularity.
These terms are often used interchangeably — but they do not mean the same thing.
Explore the Plastic Glossary