Why Plastic Lasts Forever

The Science of Its Stubbornness

Plastics are everywhere, and they’re not going away anytime soon — literally. From the water bottles we drink out of to the shopping bags we use daily, plastic has revolutionized the modern world. But have you ever wondered why a single plastic bag could outlive you by centuries? The answer lies in its remarkable, yet troubling, chemistry.

What Makes Plastic So Resistant to Nature?

Plastic’s longevity isn’t just bad luck; it’s by design. Scientists engineered it to be tough, lightweight, and long-lasting. Here’s how it works

1. Super Strong Bonds
   Plastics are made of polymers — long chains of molecules bonded tightly together. These chains are held by carbon-carbon bonds, one of the strongest types in chemistry. Think of them as the molecular version of unbreakable chains. Even heat, water, and sunlight struggle to weaken these bonds.“We’ve created a material that can endure everything, except the test of time.”
2. Recognized by Nature
   Natural materials like wood or paper break down easily because microorganisms know how to “digest” them. Plastics, however, are synthetic and completely alien to these microbes. Enzymes, the tools microbes use to break down materials, simply don’t work on plastic.