International　trade　in　plastics　accounts　for　5　%　of　total　merchandise　trade　and　involves　all　nations　in　modern　so-ciety.　To　explore　global　plastic　life　cycle　trade,　a　life　cycle-based　plastic　trade　multilayer　network　(LC-PTMN),　in-cluding　a　raw　materials　layer,　a　semifinished　products　layer,　a　plastic　products　layer,　and　a　plastic　waste　layer,　is　constructed.　The　structure　of　the　global　plastic　trade　is　studied　by　analyzing　each　layer　in　the　LC-PTMN　from　1990　to　2019.　The　results　reveal　that　the　LC-PTMN　has　a　prominent　hierarchical　structure　and　a　small-world　property,　namely,　a　few　countries　occupy　most　trade　channels　and　trade　volume.　The　trade　channels　and　trade　volume　in　the　plastic　waste　layer　are　the　most　concentrated.　Countries　with　massive　channels　have　a　strong　cooperative　ability　to　prompt　their　trading　partners　to　form　close　groups.　Developing　countries　in　Asia,　such　as　Vietnam　and　Turkey,　have　outstanding　performance　in　the　LC-PTMN.　The　major　trade　flows　have　distinct　geographical　patterns,　mainly　occurring　in　intra-North　American,　intra-Asian　and　North　American-Asian　networks.　Addition-ally,　the　community　structures　of　the　LC-PTMN　have　tended　to　stabilize.　Dramatic　changes　are　mainly　caused　by　the　merging　of　European　countries　with　Asian　and　African　countries　and　the　split　of　North　American　countries　from　other　countries.　These　findings　will　help　policy　makers　encourage　plastic　sector　transformation.(c)　2022　The　Authors.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd　on　behalf　of　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers.　This　is　an　open　access　article　under　the　CC　BY　license　(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).