# Overview
Plasteax lays its foundation on three main pillars:
* Model
* Database
* API (application programming interface)
Illustration of how Plasteax connects its model, its database, and its output to companies
The **model** is the collection of methods and assumptions that allow for the calculation of granular information about the fates of plastic waste. The model is fed with high-quality data about global plastic production and trade, together with the most recent and available information about waste management practices in the countries of interest.
By processing this data, the model is able to: (i) distribute the packaging waste generated among 6 packaging categories and 9 plastic polymers, and (ii) break down each of these elements in its possible end-of-life fates. For a more detailed description of the model underlying Plasteax, visit the [model page](https://docs.plasteax.earth/explainers/model).
Each time the Plasteax model 'runs', it produces data about at least one country, in at least one year; this data is then stored in the Plasteax **database**. The digital system that stores and structures the data produced.
The **API** is the technology that allows users to interface directly with the database and allows you to query the entire, or just specific pieces, of the dataset. Visit the [API reference page](https://docs.plasteax.earth/api-reference) to learn more about the Plasteax API and how to use it. While for more details about the output produced by Plasteax we refer to the Plasteax output page.
