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 …

Mar 6, 2026 · plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.

4 days ago · Learn what plastics are made of, how they differ by type, and what the research says about their potential health effects.

Sep 8, 2025 · Plastic pollution is growing a threat to ecosystems, the climate and our own health. What can be done to prevent it?

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 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 …

Plastic is a word that originally meant “pliable and easily shaped.” It only recently became a name for a category of materials called polymers. The word polymer means “of many parts,” and polymers are …

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

What is Plastic? Plastic is a manufactured material mainly made from natural gas, oil, and coal. Plastics are synthetic polymers consisting of long, repeating chains of molecules that are chemically bonded …

Oct 19, 2023 · From polymers to nurdles, learn how plastic is created and what we can do to slow the lasting repercussions this material will have on both our planet and our lives.