During the late 70's, early 80's a concept to create a alternative to paper money that could not be easily forged  & would last longer than the traditional paper banknotes was born. A trial attempt was made with an existing industrial plastic  called "Tyvex ®". 

Costa Rica and Haiti issued the first "Tyvex ®"  banknotes in 1983. The results were poor, especially in a tropical environment. The ink smudged easily and the banknotes were withdrawn from circulation a shortly after they had been issued.

In the same year the Isle Of Man issued an experimental banknote made of a plastic called "Bradvek ®".

On the 28th of January Australia issued the first  "Polymer" banknote, a $10 banknote made out of a material called "Guardian ®". The main features were a transparent window & a security hologram that made the note difficult to reproduce & could therefore not be easily forged.

From then on other nations have changed from using  paper banknotes to polymer banknotes . I'm sure that other nations will follow this example in the near future. Many countries of the world have already issued commemorative polymer banknotes.