Latest Article Material Innovation

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 explores the rapidly advancing field…

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Next-generation bioplastic food packaging
Commercial Products

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…

3 min read
Compostable packaging industrial composting
Infrastructure

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?…

3 min read
Light-powered CO2 bioplastic bioreactor
Biotech & Recycling

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…

3 min read
PLA nanoplastics laboratory testing
Policy & Regulation

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,…

3 min read
Mealworms consuming polystyrene
Biotech & Recycling

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…

3 min read
Bacteria biodegrading plastic biofilm
Biotech & Recycling

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.…

3 min read
Transparent cellulose glycerol food packaging
Commercial Products

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…

3 min read
Soy waste bioplastic film production
Commercial Products

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…

3 min read