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 range of solid forms.
plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.
Plastic pollution is growing a threat to ecosystems, the climate and our own health. What can be done to prevent it?
Plastic pollution poses a threat to the marine environment. It puts marine species at higher risk of ingesting plastic, suffocating, or becoming entangled in plastic pollution. Research indicates that more than 1,500 species in marine and terrestrial environments are known to ingest plastics.
Improving the management of plastic waste across the world — especially in poorer countries, where most of the ocean plastics come from — is therefore critical to tackling this problem. This page presents all of our data and writing on plastic pollution.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, thanks to the overwhelming rise in production of disposable plastic products. Plastic pollution is most visible in...
Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being.
Plastic can come in many different colors and textures, depending on the type of plastic and how it has been treated or processed. Plastic is a synthetic polymer made from various organic materials that can be molded into almost any shape.