Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of components, it needs to be processed in order to be useful. The production of plastic raw materials begins with the distillation process, which takes place at an oil refinery. The distillation process involves the separation of heavy crude oil into lighter groups called fractions. Each fraction is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains (chemical components made from carbon and hydrogen), which differ in molecular size and structure. One of these fractions, naphtha, is an extremely important element in the production of plastics.

Plastics are lighter than metals, more insulating against heat and electricity, and have many advantages with their chemical and physical properties. They are more than raw materials, cheaper, and the manufacturing processes are simpler and more economical as a result.