Plastics have become the most widely used man-made material, but their environmental impact remains poorly understood. A global analysis of all plastics ever produced reveals that 8300 million metric tons (Mt) of virgin plastics have been manufactured since 1950. By 2015, 6300 Mt of plastic waste had been generated, with 9% recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. If current trends continue, 12,000 Mt of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050. Plastics were first used in the early 20th century, but widespread use began after World War II. The largest market for plastics is packaging, which has grown due to a shift from reusable to single-use containers. Plastics now account for over 10% of municipal solid waste in middle- and high-income countries. Most plastics are derived from fossil hydrocarbons and are not biodegradable, leading to their accumulation in landfills and the environment. The study analyzed global data on plastic production, use, and end-of-life management, including thermoplastics, thermosets, polyurethanes, elastomers, coatings, and sealants. The most common resins and fibers are high-density polyethylene (PE), low-density and linear low-density PE, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyurethane resins; and polyester, polyamide, and acrylic fibers. Nonfiber plastics contain 93% polymer resin and 7% additives by mass. Global resin and fiber production increased from 2 Mt in 1950 to 380 Mt in 2015, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.4%. By 2015, 7800 Mt of resins and fibers had been produced, with half of this amount produced in the past 13 years. China accounts for 28% of global resin production and 68% of global PP&A fiber production. Bio-based or biodegradable plastics currently have a global production capacity of only 4 Mt and are excluded from this analysis. The study estimates that 2500 Mt of plastics are currently in use, with 6300 Mt of plastic waste generated between 1950 and 2015. Of this, 800 Mt have been incinerated and 600 Mt recycled, with only 10% of recycled plastics being recycled more than once. Around 4900 Mt of plastic waste have been discarded and are accumulating in landfills or the natural environment. Plastics are not biodegradable and can persist in thePlastics have become the most widely used man-made material, but their environmental impact remains poorly understood. A global analysis of all plastics ever produced reveals that 8300 million metric tons (Mt) of virgin plastics have been manufactured since 1950. By 2015, 6300 Mt of plastic waste had been generated, with 9% recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. If current trends continue, 12,000 Mt of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050. Plastics were first used in the early 20th century, but widespread use began after World War II. The largest market for plastics is packaging, which has grown due to a shift from reusable to single-use containers. Plastics now account for over 10% of municipal solid waste in middle- and high-income countries. Most plastics are derived from fossil hydrocarbons and are not biodegradable, leading to their accumulation in landfills and the environment. The study analyzed global data on plastic production, use, and end-of-life management, including thermoplastics, thermosets, polyurethanes, elastomers, coatings, and sealants. The most common resins and fibers are high-density polyethylene (PE), low-density and linear low-density PE, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyurethane resins; and polyester, polyamide, and acrylic fibers. Nonfiber plastics contain 93% polymer resin and 7% additives by mass. Global resin and fiber production increased from 2 Mt in 1950 to 380 Mt in 2015, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.4%. By 2015, 7800 Mt of resins and fibers had been produced, with half of this amount produced in the past 13 years. China accounts for 28% of global resin production and 68% of global PP&A fiber production. Bio-based or biodegradable plastics currently have a global production capacity of only 4 Mt and are excluded from this analysis. The study estimates that 2500 Mt of plastics are currently in use, with 6300 Mt of plastic waste generated between 1950 and 2015. Of this, 800 Mt have been incinerated and 600 Mt recycled, with only 10% of recycled plastics being recycled more than once. Around 4900 Mt of plastic waste have been discarded and are accumulating in landfills or the natural environment. Plastics are not biodegradable and can persist in the