For almost a century, plastic has been an essential element of our lifestyle.
In fact, since the end of the First World War, it has become one of the main materials used to make objects for any practical use.
Subsequently, since the 1950s, plastic has entered everyone’s homes even through furnishing accessories, decorative objects and design items.
The 1950s: the dawn of Italian design
With the discovery of polypropylene, an economical and very resistant material, plastic becomes the undisputed protagonist of the production of everyday objects.
In addition, its ease of production has helped to strengthen more and more effectively its primacy in terms of technological progress and taste for design.
In fact, the main companies that initially produced objects in series based exclusively on technical criteria, soon understood the aesthetic potential of this material.
Thus, they started collaborations with designers of international prestige, combining technical design for the practical use of objects, with an increasingly refined aesthetic research.
Kartell umbrella stand - Design Gino Colombini
The 1960s: a new way of life
In the '60s, plastic was firmly established in everyday life, even in areas that had been quite traditional up to that time, such as fashion, design and art.
In addition to simplifying a lot of everyday operations, plastic was able to upset the most rooted habits, and gave a touch of color to the homes of millions of people.
In that period, plastic contributed significantly to the spread of a new lifestyle, more modern and inspired by the American world.
The 60’s were characterized by the continuous search for new ideas, to create objects with more and more original shapes and colors, and for this they are remembered as the golden years of Italian design.
Irradiette portable record player - Design Mario Bellini
The 70s: the ecological revolution begins
The following decades are characterized by a surprising technological progress, which allows the use of plastic in unthinkable applications such as medical, automotive and aerospace industry.
In addition, the spread of industrial production systems such as rotational molding and others, made it possible to produce objects with increasingly accurate details and faithful to the original project.
At the same time, there was an increasing awareness of the consequences of poor disposal of plastic objects that can no longer be used.
In fact, in those years people began to reflect on the fact that, not being subject to natural decomposition, plastic waste is destined to accumulate forever, with serious damage to the planet.
For this reason, today the life cycle of a plastic object extends beyond its first use, according to the so-called circular model of the three "R": reduce, reuse, recycle.
From this point of view, plastic materials of more modern design such as polyethylene, are perfectly in accordance with the principles of environmental sustainability.
Currently, these criteria are universally recognized and are adopted in all industrial sectors, including the production of design items.
[In copertina: Plastic Design Collection – ADAM Brussels Design Museum]
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