A brief history of plastic

Join #TeamSeas! Together, we're going to raise $30M to remove 30M pounds of plastic and trash from our ocean, rivers and beaches. Learn more and get involved here: bit.ly/3mrdV3J
Trace the history of the invention of plastic, and how the material ushered in what became known as the plastics century.
--
For centuries, billiard balls were made of ivory from elephant tusks. But when excessive hunting caused elephant populations to decline, they began to look for alternatives. John Wesley Hyatt took up the challenge. In five years, he invented a new material called celluloid, which would become known as the first plastic. Trace the history of the material that ushered in the “plastics century.”
Directed by Sharon Colman.
Animator's website: www.sharoncolma...
Sign up for our newsletter: bit.ly/TEDEdNew...
Support us on Patreon: bit.ly/TEDEdPat...
Follow us on Facebook: bit.ly/TEDEdFac...
Find us on Twitter: bit.ly/TEDEdTwi...
Peep us on Instagram: bit.ly/TEDEdIns...
View full lesson: ed.ted.com/les...
Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Joe Giamartino, Filip Dabrowski, Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Tim Leistikow, Andrés Melo Gámez, Renhe Ji, Ka-Hei Law, Michal Salman, Peter Liu, Mark Morris, Catherine Sverko, Misaki Sato, Tan YH, Ph.D., Rodrigo Carballo, SookKwan Loong, Bev Millar, Merit Gamertsfelder, Lex Azevedo, Noa Shore, Taylor Hunter, Kyle Nguyen, MJ Tan Mingjie, Cristóbal Moenne, Goh Xiang Ting Diana, Kevin Wong, Dawn Jordan, Yanira Santamaria, Prasanth Mathialagan, Savannah Scheelings, Susan Herder, Samuel Doerle, David Rosario, Dominik Kugelmann, Siamak H, Tracey Tobkin, Dwight Tevuk, Anthony Kudolo, Mrinalini, Yanuar Ashari, Ivan Todorović, Alex Schenkman, Brittiny Elman, Ryohky Araya, Paul Coupe, David Douglass, Ricardo Paredes, Bill Feaver, Eduardo Briceño and Arturo De Leon.

[@TEDEd]

Join #TeamSeas! We're joining forces with audiences and creators across KZbin to clean 30 million pounds of plastic trash from our oceans, rivers and beaches, and we need your help! Visit teamseas.org to get started, or learn more about our plastic waste problem at ed.ted.com/endwaste.

[@jolene9756]

first

[@IndonesiaMajapahitNDPCA]

Yes Important Don't let my favourite animals (turtles,fish etc.) Die

[@no-xs4vz]

yes

[@garin6482]

Wow plastic hmm wonder why ted Ed is running out of ideas

[@sushil9568]

graphene made out of graphite would help ,but manufacturing graphene is costly. But, it will help in the long run Same as how cameras were costlier at that time

[@unstableunicorn9104]

Thank you Ted Ed for making me an even bigger nerd. It means a lot

[@noahcooper5969]

You forget the dash in TED- Ed Nah lol

[@ninone]

lol

[@AIKIA2.0]

They liked your comment😂😂

[@mghosh7378]

#UnicornOP😂😂

[@unstableunicorn9104]

@@mghosh7378 I'm a very big oopsie

[@mr_boo.]

The plastic isn’t the problem, plastic itself is great. It’s how it’s being thrown away and over-produced that is the problem.

[@serdarjoshua5840]

Plastik is not great, it increases estrogen levels in males and makes way to many other diseases

[@ellenjester7035]

@@serdarjoshua5840 make a bottle out of metal then, see how your body will react to it

[@microwavegum]

@Serdar 😂 I literally do not know what to say to your comment Honestly so surprised and taken back WTF

[@serdarjoshua5840]

@@ellenjester7035 no need for metal, i use glass.

[@ahitler5592]

Germans use aluminum drinking bottles

[@TheDhammaHub]

What difference 60 years can make is truly astonishing. Plastic went from nowhere to everywhere.

[@niñosnarrative]

"Ted Head Shampoo" -TedEd 2020

[@apples8232]

_invest_

[@diamondwinner7504]

Yes

[@n5k681]

When use: Hair growth increase 15% Intelligent increase 20%

[@tiffyw92]

"The shampoo that cleanses your head and mind."

[@spiralingspiral72]

/I'll take your entire stock/

[@rahulpatel1879]

TED-Ed: Plastics were made for single use. Me: Still using the cold drink bottle that I purchased 2 years ago as my school water bottle. XD

[@--TOM--]

Lol same but I finally ended up getting an actual water bottle

[@rahulpatel1879]

@@--TOM-- My mom buys me another cold drink bottle when I ask her for an actual water bottle. Lucky You.

[@--TOM--]

@@rahulpatel1879 I actually found mine at a garage sale type event where you can fill up a bag for a dollar

[@K0uzan]

Look I get it if it’s after a month or 2, but 2 years???

[@ForteExpresso]

It's जुगाड़

[@niulagoo]

Thank you, I’ve been wondering how plastic is made

[@hank6371]

Oil

[@ForteExpresso]

I don't know really if it's effective but the alternative of plastic is already invented, here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZamZItjds-UpLs

[@whwhwhhwhhhwhdldkjdsnsjsks6544]

The Onion Knight it’s sort of effective

[@Nossucram]

But not enough to google it

[@n5k681]

Glossy drecko if you know what I mean

[@aaryanrs5795]

I want to use Ted Ed Shampoo 😉 I hope I'll get more intelligent 😂

[@orange-one]

It will be made of paper

[@ForteExpresso]

@@orange-one perhaps soyabean plastic

[@masonhunter2748]

Ted head*

[@tycoongamer2416]

its Ted Head Shampoo

[@aaryanrs5795]

@@masonhunter2748 lol😂

[@pkingglazersout6665]

Me: So plastic how were you born Plastic: *Listen, It’s complicated*

[@jxupiter1]

Who the heck even asks that- " *hOw weRe yOu BorN?* "

[@siddhantrane3334]

@@jxupiter1 😂

[@shi1ba]

Plastic is from oil

[@pkingglazersout6665]

•-Bᴇʀʀʏ Cʟᴏᴜᴅs-• calm down legend 😂

[@aIkaIi]

How do you die is the more important question... the answer is never

[@rohanpotukuchi8424]

To think it all started with a game...... Me looking at my billiard ball: YOU started this.

[@godspoweristoopowerful3399]

Rohan Potukuchi haha ik

[@ss327827]

Not necessarily, if it hadn't been the billiard ball, literally any other issue could've sprung plastic into existence since it's used almost everywhere in pretty much every form. Plastic was inevitable.

[@rohanpotukuchi8424]

@@ss327827 i agree, but i won't look at a billiard ball the same way again...

[@usafa886]

more plastic on the Kardashians than in the ocean

[@godspoweristoopowerful3399]

Rohan Potukuchi I agree to you too

[@ajinkyaghule2198]

I WILL PAY FOR TED-HEAD! LETS MAKE IT A THING!!

[@enocestrada2244]

Everyone: Oh let's use plastic to make things cheaper! Presidents: W A R

[@abolavaas]

I wouldn't say everyone

[@enocestrada2244]

@@abolavaas It is an exaggeration

[@abolavaas]

@@enocestrada2244 i know, it's just that this everyone meme is getting really overused en unfunny

[@enocestrada2244]

@@abolavaas Ok, I guess

[@aryaveer7500]

stephen hawking:"a brief history of time" ted ed: "a brief history of plastic" people in comments: "a brief history of kardashians

[@tedlovejesus]

Blaster 97 not funny.... They laughed at how shallow Kardashians are, but in fact these people are the real shallow ones, consider how much good work Kim has done Kim is a role model now, she studies law, planned to become a lawyer, spoke for prisoners and spoke at White House all these good work

[@jomuffins6551]

tedlovejesus Really...

[@1.5Koreans0.5American]

I learn so much more from TED than from schools.

[@KapalPesiar-f9o]

True

[@balls3198]

Doubt

[@haku4496]

No doubt!!

[@darkphantom314]

yes

[@heerthirajah1661]

He jade how many channel ur following in all channels I see your comment I am from India tamil nadu I am an tamilan search about tamilan Joe I also see ur channel pa

[@VR_Wizard]

0:18 The elephant animation is so cute.🥰

[@KristofKarwinskithegreat-se5pu]

Sadly he died

[@amfnyc]

@@KristofKarwinskithegreat-se5pu ya so true!

[@unstableunicorn9104]

Ikr

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." --Dr Jane Goodall

[@anonymousdude2550]

Haven't you uploaded new videos? I hope you're working on it. Have you taken up this challenge?

[@TristanSamuel]

2:52 I *NEED* those shampoo bottles

[@akshitha_jella]

Hey, I need the conditioner...😂

[@ThePopushi]

Ah yes. But my *favorite* plastics are the girls of North Shore High.

[@_bri_was_here_]

my name is Regina George...

[@callmeaprilroseorisha404]

Ha

[@lilyflood4756]

Oh I like the Kardashian family

[@hello-sz7hp]

Shave and a haircut..

[@Jowjoejoe]

When you create stuff to protect elephants, but ends up killing more

[@jaye660]

Oof

[@GMDBani]

Hhaha

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

Successfully failed

[@हरयाणवीसहम]

theruralstories.blogspot.com/2021/09/plastic-pact.html

[@priyanka1902]

Who knows it was to protect elephants, or just reduce production costs.

[@jadeuwu9860]

random bacteria: eats plastic the Kardashians: *Nervous sweating*

[@jamesthounaojam4062]

Easy to use, weightless, durable, low cost, easily available but non biodegradable polymers and not eco-friendly products. Thanks to Ted-Ed for great collection of informations to us❤️👍

[@Dr_Steve.N]

I like how at 2:15 the music changes for every decade of plastic. Wonderful editing.

[@xatiter]

You guys can make even the most unassuming topics into worlds of interest and curiousity. Nice job👍

[@Accessless]

Was anyone else dissapointed at not finding out what replaced ivory billiard balls?

[@guillaumeartois4288]

original material, back in the 15th century when billard was invented, was wood. It was replaced by ivory in the 17th century. After trying celluloid at the end of the 19th century, billard balls were made of bakelite at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, they are made of either polyester or phenolic resin (which in fact is similar to bakelite, just made under more pressure). The later is a higher quality material than the first.

[@brennalimos5924]

John Wesley Hyatt, the person who started it all.

[@anushkabagchi1940]

Haha, "ted head" shampoo, good one!

[@aaryaaa933]

2019: A Brief History of Time 2020: A Brief History of Plastic

[@chrisp.9385]

2021: A Brief history of 2020

[@hello-sz7hp]

@@chrisp.9385my CORONAVIRUS night light went out !!!!!!!!

[@PulkitSomani]

This just reminded me of an artist named plasticvalla who is doing his bit to reduce plastic being dumped. All of us should support such artists too...

[@area3048]

A brief history of this video-posted 11 seconds ago - within 5 mins, we’ve reached 1.2K views - 10 mins in - 3.6K - 15 mins - 5.6K - 35 mins - 11K (I’ll add more as time goes on) Please spread awareness about plastic waste and its deep-rooted origins! Reduce, recycle, reuse. The Earth needs all the help it can get :

[@shardulwadajkar4641]

Hats off to everyone at TedEd!! Every video has such a great detail of every small damn thing! Thank you for keeping us informed in this quarentine period.

[@coloredsalt]

Thank you Ted-Ed, this video inspired me to recycle plastic and use it with greater caution.

[@mariansyk]

the majority of plastics are not recycled. Better try to minimise them :)

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

​@@mariansykwhat do you mean? Like even if I take them to a recycling center, they aren't even recycled?

[@mariansyk]

yes. The categories that are mostly recycled are 1 and 2. About the rest there is high probability to be incinerated or sent to landfill. Each country is different though. @@Gameboy-Unboxings

[@flux.aeterna]

Awesome!!! Can you please make a follow up video about how different plastics are recycled &/or why certain plastics aren’t recyclable? (Plus what the recycle symbols mean.) thank you!!

[@kennethkao2269]

oh, this title is so easy! I was born,and 19 years later, I'm still here.

[@ZIPPY_ZIPWARD]

Ted-Ed: reuse all the time! "that one plastic water bottle from 2 years ago"

[@weegeeismad9298]

Alternate title : *_A journey through a sea turtle’s stomach_*

[@Saturn_57]

Sad but true....

[@MAHA8470]

amazing .....

[@nicolaskent399]

Recycling is just the first step, and I'm ready to help out the best I can. Let's fight plastic waste!

[@voiceofneha7196]

Thank you Ted ed for continuously educating us all

[@Ypog_UA]

Environment: *exists* John Wesley Hyatt: *"I'm about to ruin this man's whole career"*

[@overcookedwater1947]

Quite weak :/

[@strange_and_magnificent]

Thanks 😊 TED ED. I’ve been dying to know how plastic was made. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@simranmalhotra7364]

"Ted head" shampoo! Good one! Creatively imagined too! 👍😉

[@user-dl3vn8ze9n]

I love how I can't stand school but I will binge watch videos like these.

[@justanotheridiot0]

Why is Ted Ed releasing content regularly these days when my exams are gonna start?

[@Commando303X]

I am enchanted by the approach of discussing something - including both its boons and its caveats - rather than lazily idolizing or vilifying it. Bravo.

[@madhulikamadhu51]

Iron: I am inevitable Plastics: And I am Iron man Scientists: the dark side of the "Force" leads to many abilities some consider to be Un"natural"

[@tahanbm6299]

Such great inventions

[@baddog5853]

Yes We need plastics but we can replace plastic to many eco friendly things! Let’s do that👏🏻✨ Time to think about earth and our health💕 we can make it!

[@asterix0078]

Can this comments comment get more likes 👇🏽

[@priyanka1902]

I wear pure cotton clothes. Not polyester or nylon clotges.

[@mir_sami00]

Ted Ed is the best teacher

[@vishnu4234]

2020 has given me a reboot... cook my own food, carry a reusable bag of cloth, you can buy less...it's okay.

[@katherinecoon6854]

THIS IS A WONDERFUL JOB

[@TheSintha13]

I really wish we start to see more eco friendly options for plastic products . I am doing my part and avoiding plastic uses ... it’s all in our control, all human play their part and be responsible 🙏🏽love you planet earth❤️ 🌍😘

[@I_lived_in_Pompeii]

Ted-Ed has delivered once again!!

[@AveryTalksAboutStuff]

Narrator: Plastics are everywhere. Me, drinking from a plastic cup: your point is valid..

[@rmt3589]

Thank you so much!!!

[@A1RTV]

PROBLEM: Plastic waste and pollution CAUSE: Over-consumption SOLUTION: Buy less things that you don't need and enjoy what you already have

[@DarkAngelEU]

Too easy. Or, too hard?

[@curlyfries1377]

I think putting the responsibility on the consumers instead of the government or the corporations would be an ineffective move

[@A1RTV]

@@curlyfries1377 if consumers decided unanimously to not buy the next incrementally updated smartphone, for example, you don't think that this will create change in the tech industry? Yes, a bunch of people may lose their jobs and income if consumption and spending is reduced, but why does human progress need to be at the expense of the natural environment and only benefit a handful of people who are sitting on the helm of corporations?

[@joyceannsolario]

I was looking at this because I was thinking of how I can help, and I realize how some small towns on my country can still save this problem, I would love to get involve but I need to get more education on this matter. Thanks Ted

[@santasdeer9852]

Scientists: so where did this amazing product come from a comet, meteor, moonrock? Plastic: if I say a ball will you be equally impressed?

[@SylviaLeDoux]

30,000 tons of intellectual property was removed from Germany during WWII. For about 15$ you could buy a patent and start an industry. That’s why you will never hear the inventor’s name in your history books. I suspect it was Kurt Ueberreiter (probably an alias) and a few other scientists. The world may never know. My grandfather was a scientist in Berlin. He was a good man. He told my mother he never killed anyone. He told them he invented the first flexible plastics. He disappeared after the war. His kids were told he died in a Russian prison camp. In an interview Kurt U explains that it was a dangerous time to have children. I still wonder if he was the same man as my grandfather. The family stories of war are sad. Both sides have not gotten away with anything. Destroy the world for money and all future generations suffer. It’s not just plastic this was also the story of our pharmaceutical and medical industry. It’s why it’s a broken system.$$$$$

[@acidmizer]

3:53 flint and steel lighting sound from Minecraft 4:57 Minecraft drowned mob sound I like the sound effects person.

[@SATYANSH]

5:10 *Plastic eating Bacteria: Exists* The Kardashians: *_aaaaaaaaaaaaaa_*

[@niñosnarrative]

I don't get i- ...

[@malihafaisal1178]

@An1e3 and boobs

[@ad_sy]

I love the Chatter Telephone at 3:58

[@carlascagnetti5236]

Hi, great video! However, I would like to point out that plastic packaging were not always design to be for single-use, take for example the plastic bag (conventional plastic grocery bag) was originally created to replace the paper bags in an attempt to decrease the environmental impact. These thin plastic bags consume less energy and resources, are resistant and durable and therefore, according to the patent in 1965, were never meant to be manufactured for single-use. Reference: Thulin, S. G.: Bag with handle of weldable plastic material. United States Patent Office (1965).

[@bradowen8862]

since it's very cheap, people don't care of reusing it

[@christigmc]

Technically yes plastics are made for single use. However with a little imagination, you can find ways to reuse your plastic items. It won’t stop the plastic problem but it can slow it down and buy us some more time to solve it. I’m an avid gardener. I save my yogurt cups and egg cartons for gardening. I heard I can turn my plastic grocery bags into “yarn” for crocheting. Haven’t done it yet but have the bags saved up for it. My husband said his family used to save the margarine tubs and yogurt cups to use as bowls and cups.

[@carlosgeonzon7499]

"Find new ways to recycle existing plastics" *KARDASHIANS: SWEATS PROFUSELY*

[@tedlovejesus]

Carlos Geonzon did you know that Kim is studying law, and planning to become a lawyer? She wrote for prisoners, and even spoke in White House, for all the good work

[@vrajshah1810]

One of the best channels for knowledge

[@josephsullivan6422]

I need ted head problem will make my smarter!

[@zxro3681]

I download every single video for future references... I love this channel more than anything

[@yumasakira.]

Well, did they work? You have become an one piece fan i suppose…

[@disrael2101]

Keep making informative videos about our common raw materials such as: lights, electricity, rubber, metal etc

[@ForteExpresso]

Bamboo is a great alternative It's abundant Bamboo artisans still exist It has its own aesthetic beauty And the last one- u already know

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“The Earth does not belong to man - man belongs to Earth.” ― Native American Proverb

[@jolene9756]

the rubber duck on the thumbnail is amazing

[@afroemperorfictionmythology]

Good video, very Educational, thank you... 👍

[@satyaasrith2752]

You can watch detailed history on other channels, it's been airing since 14 years and ended finally

[@siddhaarths5294]

I found those microorganisms eating plastic molecules very satisfying. Anyone else?

[@srilakshmi123]

Waiting for "Think Like a Coder" Episode 10.....

[@strawberrycucumber88]

It's out

[@Figgy_Jub]

Never thought someone could make the history of plastic exciting.

[@minebrandon95264]

BOYS WE DID IT, WE HAVE TRAFFIC CONES IN A TED-ED VIDEO!

[@eliasfreeman737]

Thank you TED Ed 🤝

[@Sw33tG4mer]

By doing environmental friendly decisions, we make it easier to save earth day by day.

[@tjvanderloop1686]

Excellent History & Review for all Technology Students. T J (Tom) Vanderloop, AWS & SME Member, Consultant & Author CAD/CAM/CMM Technology

[@jolene9756]

the rubber duck on the thumbnail is amazing

[@Анимек-у6е]

Thankyou Ted ed. I got it. It was superb!

[@LordPandaLad]

Do you recon that there might be a way of doing “plastic dating” like you can with carbon dating? Or is this a stretch

[@LocalPlagueDoc]

...Well, that might work, but not in the same way. Plastic dating might work to determine *when* a plastic will decompose or something.

[@harshitarao2225]

No I don't think the carbon dating technique works on plastic. You will understand just Google it...

[@shreeyamittal1771]

Dude. No.

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

@@harshitarao2225 they didn't mean use carbon dating on plastic. They meant guessing the time period of that plastic and gave an example called carbon dating

[@cuteaxolotyl9688]

Thanks i was wondering how plastic was made!

[@kaivalyabhatt948]

Thanks to Ted-Ed for starting this challenge because it creates huge effects even if small changes are taken by masses. 😇#alltogethercleanup

[@mukalpgodia3067]

Great video

[@rohangaming3994]

Sp basically, we can easily avoid plastic, but the Manufacturers do not intentionally for money.

[@suwaami6704]

ohhhhh!!!!! Thanks TEd- ED for good animtation

[@penmog8819]

I learn more from ted ed than online class

[@yttrase6181]

Background music in this video was really fun to listen to

[@techiescience474]

Great channe! TECHIE SCIENCE

[@kushagra64]

3:58 Liked that toy story reference. 4:06 another reference to Pixar

[@Kastor774]

The music has a heavy Epic Mountain Music (Kurzgesagt) feeling

[@DailyFunFactsYt]

Random Fact: The idea that the graves need to be 6 feet deep comes from a 1665 plague outbreak in England, when the mayor at that time declared the burial depth to limit the spread of disease. - Daily Fun Facts

[@freevbucksinmyvan6852]

‘Fun’ facts

[@thedeadman5528]

I like how you advertise without using ads

[@TravelTourTaste]

Hello we hope all is well . I found this information fascinating.Thank you for sharing

[@harsh9558]

We have made biodegradable plastic then why we aren't using it.

[@Nicolas-gu2jt]

I'm no expert but they aren't ready for mass production and you don't just throw them on the ground and the degrade, some need temperature or a catalyst to degrade

[@wanjingsim9685]

not very sure but i just read in an article that it causes a bigger carbon footprint because it takes up more resources to make? plus the fact that its more expensive so some businesses don't want to switch

[@reinatr4848]

Idk, maybe too expensive

[@wanjingsim9685]

www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/biodegradable-plastic-alternatives-not-necessarily-better-for-11854322 if you're interested^ the top part (incinerator) isn't really applicable to all countries it's just singapore but the bottom part is where i got the info from

[@WizardLizard-u2x]

Biodegradable plastic is also more expensive and less common, so big companies don't want to buy it to save money :(

[@FeedYourMind2]

Interesting info about plastic. Thanks

[@ferdykurniawan6326]

BTS : yup they’re now everywhere and every Face

[@mcmac8027]

They really know what we really need to know. That is brilliance.

[@ahmadhadder9834]

Plastic pollution is what happens when money is more important that doing what is right

[@Pendarin_]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the "TED Head" shampoo and conditioner pun at 2:50

[@glenjennett]

You want to solve the plastic problem? STOP MAKING MORE PLASTIC. It's funny that plastic is considered artificial or "man-made", but it is made from ingredients that come from nature. Man does not create anything, he just rearranges natural things in a different way.

[@yammlajatt3608]

U talking like OSHO👍🏻🤣

[@glenjennett]

@@yammlajatt3608 Who is osho?

[@yammlajatt3608]

@@glenjennett Great Indian spiritual Guru🙏🏻

[@glenjennett]

@@yammlajatt3608 Thanks, I guess.

[@Alpaca4711]

You can’t just simply stop making plastic 💀