Revolutionary ‘Living Plastic’: A Biodegradable Solution to Plastic Pollution

A team of international researchers have successfully developed a new biodegradable plastic material that is made of bacteria. This “living plastic” is a soft thermoplastic polyurethane material that can be used in a variety of commercial products, including footwear, mats, cushions, and memory foams. The material is composed of bacterial spores from the strain ‘Bacillus subtilis’, a common soil bacteria that has the ability to decompose the plastic when exposed to nutrients in compost.

The researchers chose to use bacterial spores because of their resistance to harsh environmental conditions. These spores have a protective protein shield that allows them to survive in a vegetative state even under extreme temperatures and pressures. In the study, the researchers introduced the bacterial spores and thermoplastic polyurethane granules into a pressing machine where they were mixed and melted together. The resulting material was then evaluated for biodegradability by placing it in compost, where it degraded by 90% in just five months.

The researchers are now working on optimizing the process to produce this biodegradable plastic material on an industrial scale. They believe that once perfected, this sustainable alternative will provide an effective solution to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Moreover, they are confident that the remains of the degraded material, which contain ‘Bacillus subtilis’, would be harmless to humans, animals, and plants.

This new biodegradable plastic material is expected to have significant implications for industries that rely heavily on plastics production and use. With its self-destruct feature at the end of its useful life, it offers an environmentally friendly solution to traditional petroleum-based plastics.

Overall, this innovative biodegradable plastic material provides hope for a more sustainable future by reducing our reliance on non-renewable resources while minimizing our environmental impact.