In a world where plastic waste increasingly clutters our environments and penetrates life’s deepest nooks, there is a growing urgency to address the non-biodegradable nature of conventional plastics. These polymers end up polluting our air, water, and even the bloodstreams of creatures everywhere. Despite our best efforts, less than a fifth of the total plastic output is biodegradable, and the methods needed to break down these materials are far from efficient. However, hope may finally be on the horizon.
A New Biodegradable Plastic
A team of researchers based at the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science Department, have made a significant breakthrough. The experts have crafted a new kind of plastic – one that can easily be degraded by bacteria.
The marvel doesn’t stop there. The composite plastic they’ve developed is not only affordable and effortless to create, but also incredibly resilient. Composite plastics are the new industry favourites, combining two or more pure materials to incorporate desired qualities like lightness and strength. These plastics are now integral components in a plethora of industrial products, from airplanes and cars to bicycles. Yet, these plastics still contribute to the mounting global waste problem.
The team chose to focus on readily available, low-cost materials that could be enhanced, and they found a gem in tyrosine. This amino acid, which forms sturdy nanocrystals, paired brilliantly with hydroxyethyl cellulose to produce a biodegradable composite plastic. Hydroxyethyl cellulose, a weak material on its own and a cellulose derivative used extensively in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, became remarkably steadfast when mixed with tyrosine in boiling water. The two materials fused to forge a composite plastic of exceptional strength, validated by a 0.04-millimeter-thick strip of the material holding up against a 6-kilogram load.
The novel material’s intriguing traits didn’t stop at strength. Typically, when a material’s strength is increased, its plasticity reduces. But in this case, the composite plastic proved not only sturdy but also more malleable than its core component, hydroxyethyl cellulose. Additionally, since both cellulose and tyrosine are edible, the biodegradable composite plastic can technically be consumed.
“The follow-up study that we have already started could advance the commercial potential of this new material, since we have replaced the boiling in water with melting, as is more common in industry,” said Professor Boris Rybtchinski, who is part of the team that developed the plastic.
“This means that we heat up the biodegradable polymers until they become liquid and then mix in the tyrosine or other suitable materials. If we manage to overcome the scientific and technical challenges involved in this process, we will be able to explore the possibility of producing this new composite plastic on an industrial scale.”
The implications of this research extend beyond industry applications. The new composite plastic could be pivotal to our collective struggle against plastic pollution. Every step toward making plastic production more sustainable brings us closer to a future free of plastic waste.
As industries explore these alternatives, the widespread adoption of biodegradable plastics could lead to a cleaner, healthier environment while maintaining the strength and flexibility required for diverse applications. The shift to greener plastics also brings economic benefits. Cost-efficient production methods and scalability mean industries can transition without the high overhead typically associated with sustainable innovations. This breakthrough exemplifies how science and industry can collaborate to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
Rybtchinski sums up: “The follow-up study that we have already started could advance the commercial potential of this new material, since we have replaced the boiling in water with melting, as is more common in industry. This means that we heat up the biodegradable polymers until they become liquid and then mix in the tyrosine or other suitable materials. If we manage to overcome the scientific and technical challenges involved in this process, we will be able to explore the possibility of producing this new composite plastic on an industrial scale.”
A Natural and Biodegradable Resin
United Kingdom-based packaging technology company Symphony Environmental Ltd has introduced a natural and biodegradable resin. The new product, branded NbR, is made with natural minerals to reduce the amount of fossil-derived polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) used, and the company says it also has been formulated to biodegrade safely in nature if it escapes recycling and ends up as litter in the open environment.
NbR comprises 20 percent nonfossil natural compounds and is suitable for making a wide variety of packaging, carrier bags, garbage bags, certain types of bottles and agricultural films, according to Symphony.
“This is a major innovation as it will make a dramatic environmental difference by reducing the fossil-derived content of plastic products by 20 percent, cutting CO2 emissions and reducing microplastics,” Symphony CEO Michael Laurier says. “Like ordinary plastic products, a product made with NbR can be recycled and made with recyclate, but it will biodegrade within months if exposed in the open environment instead of fragmenting into microplastics and lying or floating around for decades. Further, NbR offers improved postmold shrinkage and barrier properties.
“This technology was first developed by Symphony in 2011, but due to increased focus on reducing fossil resources in plastics, our early formulations have been upgraded during 2024 and NbR is the result. Trademarks are being applied for, but in line with our strategy, no patent applications will be made in order to protect the confidentiality of our formulations.”
The company says rapid growth in packaging for pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, consumer goods and e-commerce has created strong demand in the polymer resin market. At the same time, consumer requirements, legislative changes and sustainability trends have increased demand for innovative products such as NbR.
Symphony says its NbR technology is consistent with European Union and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) packaging food contact regulations, and products are tested for biodegradability and nontoxicity according to international standards.
Microplastic-free Biodegradable Plastic
Plastic pollution is one of the most defining environmental challenges of our time. Despite efforts to recycle or responsibly dispose of plastic, vast garbage patches in the oceans continue to grow, and microplastics infiltrate our food, bottled water, and even the air. Thankfully, researchers have developed a microplastic-free biodegradable plastic that is not only durable but is also fully recyclable.
This innovative material, alkyl SP2, is the result of clever chemistry. Researchers at the RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science made it by bonding two monomers with reversible salt bridges. Unlike many other “biodegradable” plastics that fail to decompose in salty environments, alkyl SP2 breaks down entirely within hours in seawater. In soil, it biodegrades in just ten days, leaving behind valuable nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Further, because it is a microplastic-free biodegradable plastic, it doesn’t leave behind any toxins.
What really sets alkyl SP2 apart is its versatility and environmental safety. Like traditional thermoplastics, it can be reshaped at temperatures above 120°C (248°F) to fit different needs. Its components are non-toxic and derived from sources other than crude oil, making it a greener alternative to conventional plastics. The material’s hardness can even be customised by tweaking the chemical structure, making its application options even more versatile.
Further, it doesn’t generate microplastics, addressing a significant drawback of current plastics. So far, early trials of microplastic-free biodegradable plastic have shown that it can be recycled efficiently, with over 80 percent of its ingredients recovered using simple processes involving alcohol and salt water.
Despite its promise, challenges remain. The cost will play a pivotal role in determining whether alkyl SP2 can compete with traditional plastics. Moreover, its suitability for fishing equipment—a major source of ocean plastic—is still uncertain, as a material designed to break down in seawater might not appeal to this industry.
It’s far too early to declare victory in the fight against plastic pollution. However, alkyl SP2 represents a hopeful step forward. By combining strength, recyclability, and environmental friendliness, this material could pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Biodegradable Plastic from CO2
Fortum Recycling & Waste, a leading waste management and circular solutions company from Finland, has succeeded in producing biodegradable plastic from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from waste incineration at its plant in Riihimäki, Finland. This breakthrough, based on carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), is a significant step towards reducing and utilising industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
According to Tony Rehn, Head of the Carbon2x program, the production of CO2-based plastic provides a new, sustainable raw material for the plastics industry. “I am very proud that our team is the first in the world to successfully produce biodegradable plastic entirely from carbon dioxide emissions. This breakthrough is a significant step towards more sustainable plastic production. This kind of development work helps to reduce dependence on fossil-based raw materials and can create a new circular economy-based business,” Rehn explains.
Similar carbon capture development projects are underway in several industrial sectors in Finland and globally, but the majority of them focus on the production of synthetic fuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS). “Captured carbon dioxide should be utilised as a new raw material instead of storing it underground or releasing it into the atmosphere when using fuel. Utilising captured CO2 is a much more sustainable option in terms of tackling resource scarcity in the future. Whereas carbon capture and storage is a linear solution that does not address the growing material shortage, carbon capture and utilisation promotes circular economy,” says Rehn.
Fortum Recycling & Waste’s Carbon2x program piloted carbon capture and utilisation in 2022. The program aims to capture carbon dioxide emissions from the incineration of non-recyclable waste and use them to produce sustainable products, such as biodegradable plastic.
Every year, Europe generates nearly 100 million tons of non-recyclable waste that is incinerated and utilised in energy production. According to Rehn, the wider implementation of the Carbon2x program’s innovation would mean that up to 90% of the CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere from waste incineration could be captured and bound into products.
Lightweight, durable, and easily modifiable, plastic today is an indispensable material in, for example, food packaging and consumer product manufacturing. According to Rehn, new sustainable solutions are needed for plastic production to complement recycled and bio-based plastics. Biodegradable, CO2-based plastic offers a significant alternative to the market because it has the same qualitative properties as traditional, fossil-based virgin plastics. According to Rehn, the Carbon2x program’s innovation is hoped to provide solutions not only for material production for food and cosmetics packaging, but also for other sectors such as toys and home electronics.
Rehn estimates that at this rate of development, the industrial production of biodegradable plastic made from waste incineration’s CO2 emissions could start as early as the end of the decade. The new “plastics born from CO2” brand was introduced to the European market in November 2024.