While many think of plastic as a relatively new invention, the use of the natural rubbers that preceded modern plastic dates back as far back as 1600 BC. The first man-made plastic wouldn’t come until over three millennia later, during the Industrial Revolution. In 1856, Alexander Parkes, an inventor from Birmingham, England invented the first plastic which he named after himself. His invention, Parkesine, was made from the organic compound cellulose mixed with nitric acid. While his efforts were applauded, plastic production didn’t take off until the 1940s and 1950s after many improvements in chemical technologies.
Today, it’s hard to imagine a world without plastic. This useful material has wide application across industries, most notably in automotive production, the medical field, and all types of packaging. Its broad reach means there are thousands of people in various businesses with an interest in the latest in plastic technologies and news. Plastics USA is the #1 source for the latest information and plastics news. Join today for free access to all our latest blogs, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!