In Mexico, scientist Sandra Pascoe has produced a biodegradable plastic from nopales, also known as prickly pear.
Working at Universidad del Valle de Atemajac in Guadalajara, Pascoe began with dry nopal, which oxidized too quickly. She then found success using the plant’s liquid, which she combined with glycerin, proteins and dyes, before drying over a flat mold to create a bioplastic film.
“Basically, the plastic is formed from the sugars of the liquid in the nopal,” Pascoe tells Efe.
She is now working with the University’s Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias to evaluate the bioplastic’s strength and how long it takes to biodegrade.