Plastics have transformed daily life, with annual production expected to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2010. This review synthesizes current understanding of the benefits and concerns of plastic use, highlighting future priorities, challenges, and opportunities. While plastics offer societal benefits and technological advances, concerns include waste accumulation, wildlife harm from ingestion or entanglement, chemical leaching, and the unsustainable use of fossil fuels. Over a third of plastic production is used for packaging, which is rapidly discarded, exacerbating waste management issues. Solutions include material reduction, recyclability design, increased recycling, bio-based feedstocks, and green chemistry. Public, industry, scientists, and policymakers must collaborate to address these challenges. The review considers plastics from seven perspectives: materials, waste accumulation, environmental effects, human health, production and disposal, biopolymers, and policy. Plastics are inexpensive, durable, and versatile, but additives like phthalates and BPA pose health risks. Plastic waste accumulates in natural environments, with significant impacts on marine and terrestrial habitats. Microplastics, fragments less than 5 mm, are a growing concern. Plastic debris can transfer toxic substances to the food chain, affecting wildlife and humans. Chemicals like phthalates and BPA are linked to reproductive and developmental issues. Human exposure to these chemicals is widespread, with significant concentrations in dust, food, and water. Research indicates potential health effects, including endocrine disruption. The review emphasizes the need for sustainable practices, including reducing plastic use, improving recyclability, and developing alternatives. Effective waste management strategies, such as recycling and reducing landfill use, are crucial. The three R's—reduce, reuse, recycle—are key to minimizing plastic waste, with additional emphasis on energy recovery and molecular redesign. Green chemistry aims to develop safer, more sustainable plastics. Overall, the review underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the environmental and health impacts of plastic use.Plastics have transformed daily life, with annual production expected to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2010. This review synthesizes current understanding of the benefits and concerns of plastic use, highlighting future priorities, challenges, and opportunities. While plastics offer societal benefits and technological advances, concerns include waste accumulation, wildlife harm from ingestion or entanglement, chemical leaching, and the unsustainable use of fossil fuels. Over a third of plastic production is used for packaging, which is rapidly discarded, exacerbating waste management issues. Solutions include material reduction, recyclability design, increased recycling, bio-based feedstocks, and green chemistry. Public, industry, scientists, and policymakers must collaborate to address these challenges. The review considers plastics from seven perspectives: materials, waste accumulation, environmental effects, human health, production and disposal, biopolymers, and policy. Plastics are inexpensive, durable, and versatile, but additives like phthalates and BPA pose health risks. Plastic waste accumulates in natural environments, with significant impacts on marine and terrestrial habitats. Microplastics, fragments less than 5 mm, are a growing concern. Plastic debris can transfer toxic substances to the food chain, affecting wildlife and humans. Chemicals like phthalates and BPA are linked to reproductive and developmental issues. Human exposure to these chemicals is widespread, with significant concentrations in dust, food, and water. Research indicates potential health effects, including endocrine disruption. The review emphasizes the need for sustainable practices, including reducing plastic use, improving recyclability, and developing alternatives. Effective waste management strategies, such as recycling and reducing landfill use, are crucial. The three R's—reduce, reuse, recycle—are key to minimizing plastic waste, with additional emphasis on energy recovery and molecular redesign. Green chemistry aims to develop safer, more sustainable plastics. Overall, the review underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the environmental and health impacts of plastic use.