Plastic is made from oil and coal and additives like  colorants, stabilisers and plasticisers which may contain toxic substances like cadmium and lead. 

Plastic is very versatile, durable, lightweight and relatively inexpensive and therefore it has been used widely in many different ways for example, in packaging, for medical and  electrical items and in construction and textiles. 

Because it is so useful, plastic production has soared and in 2021 the world produced almost 400 million metric tons of plastic. (Statista 2024) 

Plastic is everywhere but it pollutes everywhere too. Dealing with  plastic waste  is one of the biggest issues facing our planet.