Plasticizers are organic esters (usually colorless and odorless liquids) that are added to polymers to improve their flexibility and hardness. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of all plasticizer production is used in the soft PVC industry.

Soft PVC, and hence its plasticizers, find applications in various industries, including construction (flooring and wall coverings), electronics (wires and cables), consumer goods (toys, footwear, etc.), packaging, automotive (inside and outside vehicle parts), furniture, and medical (tubing and blood bags).

Phthalate esters, based on phthalic acid, are the primary types of plasticizers used because they meet a wide range of processing and performance needs. The most important phthalates include Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), also known as Di-Octyl Phthalate (DOP), Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP). Over 55% of all plasticizer production in the world consists of phthalate-based plasticizers.
Non-phthalate plasticizers, on the other hand, are not based on phthalic acid and have different chemical structures and toxicological specifications. They include terephthalates, with Dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) being the most significant, as well as epoxies, aliphatics, trimellitates, polymeric, phosphates, and others. Due to increasing regulations regarding certain phthalates driven by human health concerns, there is an ongoing shift towards the production of non-phthalate plasticizers worldwide.