The production of plastics began in 1869 when John Wesley Hyatt developed Celluloid.The plastics industry, however, is almost entirely a 20^th century phenomenon. Its growth, developments, applications, and impact on society and the economy took place in the past 100 years; barely a heartbeat in the history of civilization and materials fabrication. As brief as the history of the industry is, its development was shaped by myriad influences throughout the 1900s. Look at the top 100 events that shaped the plastic industry into what it is today.