In Mexico, two engineering students have developed a biodegradable polymer out of oat starch.
Esbeydhy Oyuky Yescas and Marlen Hernández, both students at the Technological University of the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, say the polymer begins to decompose after four months and does not impact the taste or smell of packaged goods. It also boasts antimicrobial properties that could increase perishable goods shelf life by a factor of two.
Plastic makes up 11% of waste in Mexico, according to the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change. Yescas and Hernández estimate their biopolymer could replace 5% of Oaxaca’s plastic usage. It would also provide a market for oat grains, aiding local farm production.