Plastics have long been celebrated for their versatility, lightness, and ability to be shaped into almost any form. For decades, this adaptability has defined their value and they were materials that could be engineered to be strong, transparent, flexible, rigid, heat-resistant, or lightweight depending on the need. Yet the criteria for what makes a “good” material are evolving.

When it comes to materials science and product innovation, few terms are used more interchangeably — and more confusingly — than plastics and polymers. While the two are closely related, they are not the same.