The real-world test establishes LAHB as a more biodegradable plastic than leading bioplastic polylactic acid.
According to the OECD’s Global Plastics Outlook, about 353 million metric tons of plastic waste were produced globally in 2019, with nearly 1.7 million metric tons flowing directly into aquatic ecosystems. Much of this waste becomes trapped in large rotating ocean currents, forming the infamous “garbage patches” found in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
To tackle this, researchers have been searching for plastics that can be degraded more reliably in deep-sea environments. LAHB, a lactate-based polyester biosynthesized using engineered Escherichia coli, has already shown strong potential as a biodegradable polymer that breaks down in river water and shallow seawater.
“Our study demonstrates for the first time that LAHB, a microbial lactate-based polyester, undergoes active biodegradation and complete mineralization even on the deep-sea floor, where conventional PLA remains completely non-degradable,” Prof. Taguchi said in a press statement.
The Shinshu University study will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Polymer Degradation and Stability.