The first fully synthetic polymer was Bakelite, created by Leo Baekeland in 1907. Then came the flood:

• Polyethylene (1933) — now the world's most produced plastic, used in bags, bottles, and packaging
• Nylon (1935) — the first synthetic fiber, replacing silk in stockings and parachutes
• PVC, polystyrene, and polyester followed, each engineered for specific properties

Global plastic production now exceeds 400 million tons per year. The problem is that most plastics are designed to last forever in a world that throws them away after a single use.