1856 Alexander Parkes, Parkesine, nitrocelluloid

(semi-synthetic plastic based on nitrocellulose)

1907 Leo Baekeland, Bakelite

Friedrich Klatte, PVC

1912 Production

Invention of various plastic

1913-1954 types including Cellulose,
poly(methyl methacrylate),LDPE,
PU, Nylone, PS, PET, PP

1960 Awareness of plastic pollution

James Guillet, biodegradable

1973 plastic

1974 Hideki Shirakawa, Alan

McDiarmid and
Alan Heeger, electrically
conductive plastics

1983 Identify the harmful effect of

plasticizers
Timeline of Plastic

Inter-national policies relevant to

plastic pol-lution also began in the
1988 ocean with MARPOL (International
Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships) Annex V that
entered into force in 1988.

Discovering the Great Pacific

1997 garbage patch