Despite the increasing use of plastics worldwide, they are repeatedly branded in the media as polluters and toxic. Due to frequent questions from students, colleagues and even from the neighborhood, the plenary speaker thinks that it is important to openly inform and engage in discussion about plastics and their risks and benefits for the society. This plenary talk deals – depending on the current situation during the conference – either with plastic waste, critical substances in plastics, bioplastics, or/and life cycle assessments. The listener may draw his or her own conclusions after studying the many sources given.
