TIMELINE HOW DID PLASTIC BECOME A GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
NIGHTMARE?
Take a look at how plastic went from an initiative with good intentions, to an unsustainable component of an evolving consumerist culture that plagues the natural environment across the globe
1860
1950
1970
Plastic was invented to save Elephants!
Plastic is introduced to the food sector
Single-use plastic bags were doomed from day one
In 1869, the first synthetic polymer was created. John Wesley Hyatt responded to a New York firm’s offer of US$10,000 for an alternative to ivory—a product that supports the slaughter of at least 20,000 Elephants each year.
Historically, consumers would eat in restaurants from ceramics, and maneuvre their food with silver cutlery. The introduction of plastic marked an era of flexibility in the restaurant industry, allowing businesses to offer ‘takeaway’ services.
While consumers were dubious of the singleuse plastic bag, the item was introduced in the 70s. But, little did the producers know— let alone the rest of the world—that plastic would become one of the most significant burdens on the planet.
