About This Course

Plastics are one of the most important materials in modern society. They enable lightweight transportation, safe food packaging, medical devices, clean water systems, and countless everyday products. Yet at the same time, plastic waste and pollution have become one of the most visible environmental challenges of our time. Public discussions often frame plastics simply as a problem—but the reality is far more complex.

This course explores plastics through a sustainability lens, examining both their benefits and their challenges. You will learn why plastics became so widely used, how they are produced and designed at the molecular level, and how their properties can be engineered for different applications. From there, the course investigates the environmental impacts of plastics across their entire lifecycle—from raw materials and manufacturing to consumption, waste, and recycling.

Rather than relying on slogans or simplistic solutions, the course encourages systems thinking. Participants will explore key sustainability questions: When are plastics actually the best option? Why is recycling more difficult than it seems? What role do design, policy, and consumer behavior play in reducing plastic pollution?

By the end of the course, learners will develop a more balanced and scientifically grounded understanding of plastics in the sustainability debate. Whether you are a student, professional, policymaker, or curious citizen, this course will help you move beyond myths and toward informed, responsible decision-making about one of the most influential materials of our time.