---
title: "Plastic origin"  
description: "A brief explanation about the invention of plastic and it's origin"  
author: "Anjita D."  
published: 2023-10-14  
canonical: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/2884/plastic-origin  
category: "science and history"  
tags: ["science", "history", "plastic", "facts", "general knowledge"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Plastic origin

![Plastic origin](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/b445e04b-6d1e-4532-a138-67bf7e5b4b52/images/3439fd62-d006-4bb3-9e88-d6c4b3bdf519.jpeg) ![Plastic origin](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/b445e04b-6d1e-4532-a138-67bf7e5b4b52/images/cb554181-61b9-4106-abc9-952dfa14de91.jpeg) Plastics, derived from the Greek word "plastikos," are a variety of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made from crude oil. ![Plastic origin](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/b445e04b-6d1e-4532-a138-67bf7e5b4b52/images/8a6aee28-7cef-495c-85b5-a9d3a9d09817.jpeg) It is a carbon atom that forms long chains that can be moulded into various shapes and sizes. ![Plastic origin](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/b445e04b-6d1e-4532-a138-67bf7e5b4b52/images/6f5fbc9d-2e57-4367-8bcd-cf36bc2fdec6.jpeg) In 1862, British chemist Alexander Parkes invented the first plastic, Parkesine, made from cellulose, a natural material found in plant cell walls. ![Plastic origin](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/b445e04b-6d1e-4532-a138-67bf7e5b4b52/images/76d48761-d0cd-4ad4-94e1-70b1196156dc.jpeg) Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite in 1907, fully synthetic plastic made from formaldehyde & phenol for insulators, radios & telephones. ![Plastic origin](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/b445e04b-6d1e-4532-a138-67bf7e5b4b52/images/0359685c-cd32-42c1-8197-db79287ba330.jpeg) In 1941, German chemist Karl Ziegler invented polyethylene, a cost-effective and durable plastic used in bags, food packaging, and toys.

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Original Source: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/2884/plastic-origin

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