Enzyme-Embedded Plastic: Materials That Digest Themselves
What if plastic could break itself down when its job is done? A review published in ACS Applied Bio Materials by Sun S and colleagues…
Next-Generation Bioplastics for Food Packaging: Materials and Applications
The food packaging industry is undergoing a transformation as bioplastics emerge as viable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. A comprehensive review published in Materials by…
Compostable Packaging in Industrial Practice: What the Data Shows
Compostable packaging promises to reduce plastic waste by breaking down alongside organic matter. But does it actually work at scale? A comprehensive study published in…
Light-Powered Bacteria Turn CO2 Into Bioplastic
What if bacteria could harness light to convert carbon dioxide into bioplastic? A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society demonstrates…
Are Bioplastics Safe? What PLA Nanoplastics Do to Living Cells
Polylactic acid (PLA) is widely regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic. It is plant-derived, compostable, and used in everything…
Insects vs Plastic: How Mealworms and Wax Moths Biodegrade Polymers
When we think of solutions to plastic pollution, insects are not the first thing that comes to mind. Yet a growing body of research shows…
How Bacteria Eat Plastic: The Biochemistry of Biodegradation
Plastic pollution is everywhere — in oceans, soils, and even the air we breathe. But nature is not entirely defenseless. A comprehensive 2024 review published…
Transparent Cellulose-Glycerol Films: A New Option for Food Packaging
The search for sustainable food packaging has led researchers to an unlikely pairing: cellulose and glycerol. A 2024 study published in the International Journal of…
From Soy Waste to Bioplastic Film: An Industrial Proof of Concept
Every year, the soy processing industry generates enormous volumes of whey, a protein-rich wastewater stream that is expensive to treat and typically discarded. A team…
Closed-Loop PLA: High-Performance Bioplastics You Can Recycle Forever
One of the biggest criticisms of bioplastics has been the trade-off between sustainability and performance. Materials that biodegrade often lack the heat resistance and mechanical…