Plastic is an all-purpose material. Cheap, light in weight, strong, and is highly versatile, it is used in numerous ways. In 2016, plastic production amounted to 335 million tons, 1.4 times more than in 2005 and 215 times more than in 1950. And it’s growing. According to the United Nations, only 9% of all plastics produced in the world are recycled, about 11% are incinerated, and the rest end up in landfills or the environment. More than 98% of plastics come from petroleum derivatives, natural gas, or coal; and they are non-renewable.