The discovery of a new, extremely biodegradable biopolymer that’s more biodegradable than paper, could mark an important turning point in addressing the problem of plastic, and of microplastics in particular. This is a problem that is global in scale with microscopic particles remaining in the environment when larger plastic breaks down, entering the waterways and from there spreading everywhere — even into human cells.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and bioplastic company Eastman — directly engaged in the recycling of fossil-based plastic — have formed a partnership to accelerate the degradation of bioplastic in water, identifying a possible strategy for eliminating — or at least significantly reducing — the form of pollution that affects our entire planet.
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Date: 23 October 2024
