Since when has plastic been around?

About “Plastics You Never Knew”

Against the backdrop of fluctuating crude oil and naphtha prices, supply uncertainties, and growing demands to use recycled materials, plastics are no longer simply "cheap, easily procurable materials." Japan, in particular, relies heavily on chemicals and resins derived from imported naphtha, making it structurally vulnerable to shifting international affairs and supply constraints.

How can companies secure the "resources" directly linked to their business continuity and procurement strategies? Plastic recycling is no longer viewed merely as waste management—it is beginning to be redefined as a core "resource strategy."

In this series, we unpack the realities of modern plastic recycling and explore what the future circular society should look like as we utilize plastics as truly "circular resources."

Summary

• The first plastic was created in 1907. Following the elucidation of its structure, it developed into materials familiar in modern life—such as polyethylene—from the 1930s onward.

• Plastic shopping bags were originally developed to prevent deforestation and be reused, but their cheapness led to a throwaway habit, turning their non-degradable property into a waste problem.

Plastic is one of the most familiar materials in our daily lives. Derived from petroleum, it does not decompose in nature, making it a major driver of environmental issues, including its impact on ecosystems and global warming. How did this material become so deeply integrated into our lives? Unraveling the history of plastic reveals a surprisingly unexpected background.

In 1907, American chemist Leo Baekeland invented "Bakelite," the first plastic made entirely from synthetic chemical raw materials like petroleum and coal. This breakthrough led to the birth of modern plastics. In the 1920s, the chemical structure of plastic was unlocked thanks to the concept of "macromolecules (polymers)" proposed by German chemist Hermann Staudinger. This paved the way for the invention of materials familiar to us today—such as polystyrene (used in plastic models and food containers) and polyethylene (used in plastic bags and containers)—throughout the 1930s to the 1950s.

The driving force behind the creation of plastic (specifically plastic shopping bags) was the inventor’s desire to "stop the mass logging of trees used to make paper bags." In other words, it was originally created for the sake of the planet. In 1959, when Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin invented the modern polyethylene shopping bag (the T-shirt bag), paper bags were the ultimate symbol of a "single-use disposable item that tears immediately." He believed that "plastic is light and durable, so people can fold it into their pockets and reuse it over and over. This will save trees, and everyone can keep reusing them." It was designed with the explicit intent of being reused.

Ironically and unfortunately, the very trait the inventor hoped for—being durable and long-lasting—led to plastic being treated as "disposable" by people due to its sheer cheapness. The characteristic of being too durable to decompose in nature turned into the worst possible disadvantage: remaining in the environment forever as trash. Because they were distributed so cheaply, people developed the habit of "single-use"—throwing them away after just one use. Even if we change the materials we use, the problem will not be solved unless we change our "throwaway" behavior. Altering our actions is an indispensable step toward resource circulation.

The significance of engaging in resource circulation goes beyond just helping the environment. The importance of recycled resources is also growing in terms of securing a stable supply of raw materials. (Reference article: Plastic Recycling esa released the "White Paper on Plastic Recycling: Emergency Report 2026.05"). We will dive into this topic in more detail in another article.

In the next edition, we will explore plastic recycling, looking into its methods and challenges.