The team within the university’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences claim the new bioplastic biodegrades in just two months and could be used for food packaging, among other applications.
“We have an enormous problem with our plastic waste that recycling seems incapable of solving. Therefore, we’ve developed a new type of bioplastic that is stronger and can better withstand water than current bioplastics. At the same time, our material is one hundred percent biodegradable and can be converted into compost by microorganisms if it ends up somewhere other than a bin,” says Professor Andreas Blennow in a press statement.
Professor Blennow. also noted that many bioplastics in commerce today require very specific conditions to actual break down. “I don’t find the name suitable because the most common types of bioplastics don’t break down that easily if tossed into nature,” he added. “The process can take many years and some of it continues to pollute as microplastic. Specialized facilities are needed to break down bioplastics.”