Plastic is a synthetic or naturally occurring polymer that can be easily molded and shaped under heat and pressure. It is chemically stable, lightweight, water and shock-resistant, has low thermal conductivity, and has good insulation properties. The majority of plastic in use today is made from hydrocarbons, which are organic molecules consisting entirely of carbon and hydrogen. These hydrocarbons are derived from materials of biological origin occurring within Earth’s crust, known as fossil fuels. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds and needs to be processed before it can be used. The production of plastics begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery. This separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components, called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is the crucial compound for the production of plastics. The monomers ethylene and propylene are combined with a catalyst to create a polymer “fluff,” which looks like powdered laundry detergent. The polymer is fed into an extruder, where it is melted and fed into a pipe. The plastic forms a long tube as it cools. The tube is cut into small pellets. Pellets are shipped to factories to be melted and molded into water bottles, food packaging, auto parts, medical devices, and much more. It is important to note that plastic can be made from other, more eco-friendly sources that replace fossil fuels. This plastic, known as renewable plastic or bioplastic, is created from renewable biomass such as terpenes, lignin, cellulose, vegetable fat, bacteria, wood fibers, carbohydrates, recycled food waste, etc.