Plastic is part of a category of materials called polymers. They can occur naturally and are abundant in the environment. However, synthetic polymers are a more recent invention of the last 150 years.
These come from plentiful carbon atoms found in fossil fuels. Since then, polymers have become an integral part of the industry, technology, and various sciences.
Iran produces an average of 6 million tons of polymers annually. Half of this amount is domestically consumed, while the other half is exported with a value of $3 billion.
Several manufacturing sectors heavily depend on these products such as home appliances, automobile, and construction materials.