"I'm child No. 23, " Ms. Vivier explained as she cleared plastic plates off the table.

WSJ: This North Dakota Mom, 77, Reared 69 Kids

There was juice in Styrofoam cups and potato chips on little red plastic plates.

NEWYORKER: The Hot Spotters

The setting is light and airy, the seating is comfortable, the visual merchandising is artfully done, and the food is served on real dishware, not in paper wrappers or on plastic plates.

FORBES: A Rational Prediction: Why Chobani and Panera, Apple, and Amazon are Among Brands That Will Keep Their Edge in 2013

The brothers had no experience in the car industry, having made their money selling plastic cups, plates and gifts for Asian airlines.

ECONOMIST: Industry in eastern Germany

At a 4-foot-long skylight, a 7-foot corrugated-plastic lighting sculpture made of small plates hangs from the 20-foot ceiling.

WSJ: Where Art and Architecture Collide

Solo's indestructible red plastic cup showed up in the 1970s, when Solo also diversified into disposable plates and bowls.

FORBES: Party's Over

Alas, the party hostess was possessed of a passion for disposable stemware, plates and cutlery and we were offered nothing less than the finest plastic cups for enjoying my bottle of precious bubbly.

FORBES: What Is The Best Wine Glass For Enjoying Wine?

In the modern world, we make most of our pots out of metal and plastic, but we still use plain-old pottery for everyday items, from coffee mugs to dinner plates.

FORBES: No. 16: The Pot