What is Plastic?

Plastic is made from oil, a non-renewable resource.

Oil wells are drilled on land or at sea and the crude oil is sent to an oil refinery and then turned into products such as petrol, paraffin, lubricating oil and plastic.

You might think that plastic is just plastic, but there are over 50 different types!

Plastic is so adaptable that it is used for a range of things including car parts, clothes, packaging, fishing nets, medical equipment, electricals and much more!

Click here to find out more about the 7 most common types of plastic and their symbols

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