<jats:p>The proceedings of the international conference MoPRA 2025 – Understanding Plastics: From Heritage to Controversy and Beyond gather a selection of contributions presented in São João da Madeira, Portugal, from 5 to 7 November 2025. This volume reflects the intellectual richness and interdisciplinary dialogue fostered during three days of discussion devoted to plastics as historical agents, cultural materials, technological innovations, and environmental challenges.</jats:p>