Who are the people behind the discovery of plastic?

The discovery of plastic is attributed to several key figures. In 1862, Alexander Parkes introduced Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, during the Great International Exhibition in London. Later, in 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, which marked a significant advancement in plastic development. These innovations paved the way for the diverse range of plastics we use today.