T he first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907. Being synthetic was significant because that meant it was made from no molecules found in nature, which preserved natural resources (or so was the thinking at the time). Perhaps your grandparents or great-grandparents had a telephone or radio made of Bakelite.

It was during World War II that the use of synthetic alternatives accelerated. Everything from women’s nylons, to parachutes, helmet liners, ropes, body armor, and plexiglass revolutionized the economics and effectiveness of waging war. Consumers also enjoyed plastics’ low costs, safety, and sanitary features. But over time, the ugly side of plastics became apparent.

Today plastics are clogging our landfills, littering our environment, polluting our rivers and oceans, and leeching chemicals into our ground water. Food and water packaging are also being contaminated with plastic chemical by-products that could disrupt human and animal endocrine systems. But plastics aren’t all bad. They also make possible computers, cell phones and many lifesaving medical advances.

So what do we do? Some ideas include: Reuse. Recycle. Avoid the use of plastics wherever possible in clothing, food storage, shopping bags, etc. Encourage your community to pass laws about any or all of these ideas.

The good news is: we can make a difference. We just need to choose a first step and take it.