Who Invented Plastic?

Plastic was invented in the early 20th century by a Belgian chemist whose innovative creation sparked a consumer revolution.

The resulting material enabled the production of desirable and affordable new products for the masses, creating a boom in the retail sector.

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The invention also launched new industries that employed thousands of people and even helped Britain during World War II.

When was plastic invented?

Plastic was invented in 1907 by Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a chemist born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863. Studying chemistry at the University of Ghent in 1880, he had earned his PhD by the age of 21.

He worked on new innovations in photography in his youth, leading to the invention of a photographic paper known as Velox that enabled enlargements to be printed using artificial light in 1893. His resulting earnings enabled him to go to Germany in 1890, where he attended the Technical Institute at Charlottenburg to complete a refresher course in electrochemistry.

In the early 20th century, he investigated new areas for chemical developments, entering the field of synthetic resins.

What is plastic made of?

Baekeland began to study the chemical reactions of formaldehyde and phenol, including the effects of pressure, temperature and the proportions of the materials when mixed together.

After much research and experimenting, he finally produced the required material in 1907 - a hard, synthetic, mouldable plastic that he named Bakelite. He was granted the patent for the new material on 7th December 1909, just one day before rival inventor James Swinburne, of Scotland, filed his own patent.

While Swinburne is often called the Father of British Plastics, Baekeland is officially recognised as the person who invented plastic.

There was a revolution in plastic production throughout the 20th century. The dark wood-like appearance of Bakelite made the material easy to mass-produce, which enabled affordable items in the style of new design trends, such as Art Deco, becoming available to the general public, rather than just the wealthy.

Certain items that were manufactured as a result of the invention of plastic have since become iconic and collectible such as the Ekco AD36 radio, the Purma camera and the GPO telephone.

Rise of the plastic industry

The production of plastic has progressed through the years, including finding ways of using the waste materials from natural gas and crude oil processing to make plastics.

During the early 20th century, the chemical and petroleum industries collaborated with companies such as Exxon Mobil, Dow Chemicals, BASF and DuPont to produce resins needed by the plastic manufacturing industry.

The UK company, Imperial Chemical Industries, beat its US and German rivals to procure vast quantities of the by-product, ethylene gas, produced during petrol processing.

ICI was founded in 1926 and had its first major success in 1932 with Perspex production. Then, in 1933, a team from ICI Winnington, near Northwich, created a new plastic material by chance as they attempted to mix benzaldehyde and ethylene at a high temperature under extreme pressure.

Oxygen leaked into the vessel and the resulting substance was white and waxy. The scientists found it was a polymer of ethylene - which later became the wonder material polyethylene.

Flexible, strong and heat-resistant, it is the most abundant plastic in the world today - first used during World War II, when it insulated radar cables.

Later, it was used for many consumer products including the famous Tupperware kitchen accessories, laundry and detergent bottles, milk containers and cosmetic lotion bottles to name but a few.

Why is plastic important?

Plastics play a crucial role in everyday life today. In fact, almost all aspects of our lives involve plastic or rubber in some form.

Plastic uses are diverse, covering many different sectors. Vital to the medical and healthcare industry, it is used to make devices such as artificial knee and hip joints, surgical equipment and drips.

Over 40 million tonnes of plastic are made mainly into polyester, nylon and acrylic fibres for clothes and footwear. Most shoe soles are made from polyurethane or another elastomeric material.

Plastics are also used in cars, with the average motor vehicle having one-third of its 30,000 parts made from plastic materials. This includes fenders, carburettors, handles, dashboards, seats, engine covers, interior wall panels, cable insulation and more.

Lightweight, plastic is ideal for public transport vehicles, as they use less fuel and therefore produce less carbon dioxide emissions.

Public transport vehicles such as buses and coaches typically contain around 20% plastics including luggage shelves, steering wheels, door liners and electronic parts.

Aircraft also have plastic parts, including the Boeing Dreamliner, which is 50% plastic to reduce the costs of building materials and improve performance. This includes window and door frames, fixings, fixtures and insulation materials.

Plastic is also used in sport for footballs, tennis and squash rackets and golf clubs.

It is used in the construction industry for door and window frames, sewage and water pipes and geomembranes used to control fluid migration.

Responsible use of plastics

Still important in the modern day, there’s a place for all sorts of plastics in today’s applications. However, everyone must act responsibly and dispose of plastic waste correctly to protect the environment from pollution.

As a responsible plastic product provider; as well as ensuring that our products will last a lifetime, we also sell a range of used plastic crates and containers, offering savings for customers and providing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

We also stock recycling bins that can be used at home and in the workplace to encourage sensible waste disposal.

In fact, all our products are recycled, recyclable or perfect for recycling!

For more information on Who Invented Plastic? talk to Solent Plastics