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. The main ingredient in most plastic material is a derivative from crude oil and natural gas. There are two types of plastic: synthetic and biobased. Synthetic plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal, while biobased plastics come from renewable products such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, bacteria, and other biological substances. The plastic-making process starts with the extraction of raw materials such as crude oil, natural gas, and sometimes coal from the ground. The production of plastics begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery, which separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components called fractions. Two main processes are used to produce plastics: polymerization and polycondensation, and they both require specific catalysts. In a polymerization reactor, monomers such as ethylene and propylene are linked together to form long polymer chains. Each polymer has its own properties, structure, and size depending on the various types of basic monomers used. The resulting polymer is fed into an extruder, where it is melted and fed into a pipe. The plastic forms a long tube as it cools, which is then 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.