Plastic — the material that shapes bottles, toys, and phones — was actually discovered by accident. In the 1860s, an American inventor named John Wesley Hyatt was searching for a substitute for ivory. At that time, billiard balls were made from elephant tusks, and the demand for ivory was pushing elephants toward extinction.
Hyatt experimented with a plant-based substance called cellulose, found in cotton and wood pulp. When he mixed it with chemicals, he created a smooth, mouldable material that hardened as it dried. He called it celluloid. It looked like ivory, could be shaped easily, and was far cheaper. Hyatt’s mistake became a breakthrough — the world’s first synthetic plastic.
Soon, plastics replaced expensive natural materials like tortoiseshell and horn. They were light, durable, and easy to mass-produce. By the 20th century, new forms of plastic like Bakelite, nylon, and polyethylene revolutionised everything from fashion to food packaging.
But this miracle material also brought new problems. Its strength means it doesn’t break down easily, creating mountains of waste that harm oceans and wildlife.
Plastic was born from a clever accident — a discovery that solved one crisis but created another. Its story reminds us that even good inventions need responsible use.