noun
plastic
B1
Plastik (das) means plastic as a material, and sometimes plastic items (plastics). It’s a neuter noun, plural often Plastiks but commonly mass noun without plural. Use das Plastik for material. No special preposition; regular declension shown, genitive des Plastiks. In Alltag oft als nicht zählbar verwendet.
Examples
Wir sollten versuchen, weniger Plastik zu verbrauchen.
We should try to use less plastic.
In diesem Laden gibt es viele Produkte aus Plastik.
This shop has many plastic products.
Die Regierung beschloss ein Verbot, weil Plastik die Umwelt stark belastete, wie neue Studien belegten.
The government decided on a ban because plastic heavily burdened the environment, as new studies showed.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a plastic bottle or bag — that's 'Plastik'.
Same as English 'plastic' — easy to remember.
Typically 'das Plastik' for the material — think of it as a mass/substance (das).
Notes
Plastik is usually neuter (das) when referring to the material. In some contexts (especially art) 'die/der Plastik' can occur for sculptures; be aware of the alternate usage.