Originally, most plastics were made from resins derived from vegetable matter, such as cellulose which is from cotton, furfural in which is from oat hulls, oils from seeds, starch derivatives, and coal, a solid fuel of vegetable origin. Casein, an element from milk was among the nonvegetable materials used. Although the production of nylon was originally based on coal, air, and water, and nylon 11 is still based on oil from castor beans, most plastics today are derived from petrochemicals. These oil-based products are more widely available and less expensive than other raw materials. However, because most experts predict that the world supply of oil will be exhausted in the 21st century, other sources of raw materials, such as coal gasification, are being explored.

Many other industries, especially automobile and truck manufacturing, also depend on plastics. Tough engineering plastics are found in components like air-intake manifolds, fuel lines, emission canisters, fuel pumps, and electronic devices. Plastics are also used for interior paneling, seats, and trim. Many automobile bodies are made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. Among the other uses of plastic are housings for business machines, electronic devices, small appliances, and tools. Consumer goods range from sports equipment to luggage and toys.

Because plastics are relatively inert, they do not normally present health hazards to the maker or user. However, some monomers, a chemical compound that can undergo polymerization, used in the manufacture of plastics have been shown to cause cancer. The problems involved in the manufacture of plastics parallel those of the chemical industry in general. Most synthetic plastics are not environmentally degradable; unlike wood, paper, natural fibers, or even metal and glass, they do not rot or otherwise break down over time. Some degradable plastics have been developed, but none has proven compatible with the conditions required for most sanitary landfills. Thus, there is an environmental problem associated with the disposal of plastics. Recycling has emerged as the most practical method to deal with this problem, especially with products such as the polyethylene terephlalate bottles used for carbonated beverages, where the process is fairly straightforward. More complex solutions are being developed for handling the commingled plastic scrap that constitutes a highly visible, and relatively small, part of the problem of solid waste disposal.