Material Innovation
Breakthrough materials, novel blends and next-generation bioplastic research.
Enzyme-Embedded Plastic: Materials That Digest Themselves
Plastic that carries the enzymes needed to digest itself is no longer hypothetical. A review in ACS Applied Bio Materials by Sun S and colleagues…
DNA-Polysaccharide Hydrogels: Recyclable Bioplastics From Waste
A new family of DNA bioplastics crosslinks plant-derived polysaccharides with DNA from natural sources to make hydrogels that biodegrade, recycle in plain water and repair…
Ocean-Grown Bioplastics: The Rise of Algae-Based Materials
Plastic alternatives that need farmland or freshwater trade one problem for another. Algae bioplastics avoid both, using microalgae and cyanobacteria to produce polymers that are…
PLA Gets 30x Stronger With New Blending Breakthrough
A PLA strength breakthrough published in Nature Materials reports a 30-fold increase in polylactic acid’s impact resistance, achieved through reactive compatibilization with a bio-based elastomer.…
Scientists Create Milk-Based Plastic That Biodegrades in 13 Weeks
A milk-based biodegradable plastic made from casein, the main protein in cow’s milk, breaks down completely in soil within 13 weeks. It meets EN 13432…
New Bioplastic Film Cools Buildings by 9.2°C Without Electricity
A bioplastic cooling film made from cellulose and polylactic acid (PLA) has cut surface temperatures by up to 9.2°C using no electricity at all. The…