History of Plastic: The Bakelite Revolution

Our journey into the history of plastic continues. Today, we will look at the innovations of the early 20th century, with a particular focus on Bakelite: a true watershed moment between the first experiments and the plastic materials we know today.

There are many fundamental steps in the history of plastic, each with its own peculiarities, protagonists, and curiosities. After telling you how it all began with a billiard ball and the birth of celluloid, we move to the first decades of the 1900s. This is the moment when chemistry took a decisive leap forward, giving rise to the first truly “synthetic” plastic.

Leo Baekeland and the Birth of Bakelite

The first plastics of the 19th century, like celluloid, were still “semi-synthetic”: they derived from natural substances—cellulose, milk, starch—modified in a laboratory. But at the dawn of the 20th century, research began to aim higher. In particular, as often happens, the unexpected outcome of an experiment paved the way.

In 1907, the Belgian chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland achieved a feat destined to make history. He was trying to reproduce an insulating material that would act as a substitute for shellac, but he achieved much more. By combining phenol with formaldehyde, he gave shape to a new material that did not exist in nature, possessing a hard consistency and a dark color. He called it Bakelite, after his name, and it was the first completely synthetic plastic.

Bakelite had surprising characteristics: heat-resistant, insulating, moldable, and unbreakable. It could be molded into many shapes and colored as desired: for this reason, it opened up new possibilities for designers and manufacturers. It can safely be said that in the years following its invention, Bakelite invaded people’s daily lives.

Classic black telephone sets and some car components, like dashboards, were made of Bakelite. Objects such as sockets, knobs, and pot handles were also often made of Bakelite. There was even a large production of Bakelite costume jewelry: by exploiting the coloring possibility, necklaces and bracelets were able to imitate precious materials like amber and ivory.

The Beginning of a Long Evolution

In short, Bakelite was the symbol of a new era for a long time: the era in which matter was no longer limited to being found, but designed according to specific needs. It is no coincidence that it was soon celebrated as “the material of the future.”

Yet, the future had yet to arrive. Baekeland’s invention indeed paved the way for a true revolution. In the following decades, new polymers—from PVC to polyethylene—would arrive, making plastic lighter, cheaper, and more versatile.

In the next chapter of our series, we will discover how the subsequent plastics developed in the 20th century shaped the design, technology, culture, and lifestyle of the post-war period.