Historical allegation

Natural fiber → synthetic replacementAtlas

Environment & Climate · Energy industry influence

Accounts claiming oil and gas oligarchs engineered the replacement of natural fibers and materials with petrochemical synthetics (glass→plastic, bristle→nylon, cotton/linen→polyester, and a wider substitution cascade) to lock demand and seed plastic into bodies—versus materials and market histories treating the shift as cost, scale, wartime chemistry, and consumer preference, with intentional diseasing cast as later overlay.