Japanese scientists develop plastic that dissolves within hours

Innovation: biodegradable plastic

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Researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan have created a new type of plastic that can quickly dissolve in seawater.

A new material

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The breakthrough was unveiled ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, as countries prepare for a new round of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in August after a deadlock in December's discussions, The Independent reported.

A solution for the environment

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Biodegradable plastic emerges as a possible response to one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time: ocean pollution and its devastating impacts on marine life.

No waste

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According to the researchers, the material disappears into salt water or soil, leaving no harmful residue like microplastics, The Independent reported.

How is this possible?

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When this plastic comes into contact with salt, the elements that make up the plastic are easily dissolved by bacteria present in nature, reported Reuters.

Rapid degradation

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While scientists have long been exploring biodegradable plastic alternatives, researchers from the Riken Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo said the new material is unique precisely because of how quickly it degrades.

Research on biodegradable plastic

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In November 2024, the same group had already developed a plastic capable of decomposing in 10 days, as reported by the BBC.

Cleaner oceans

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Now, they have reduced this time to just a few hours, which greatly reduces the possibility of the material being ingested by marine animals.

The packaging industry is interested

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Project coordinator Takuzo Aida told Reuters the research had sparked great interest, especially from companies in the packaging industry.

No date to enter the market

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However, the team has not yet released any specific plans for making this material commercially available.

Plastic is here to stay

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According to projections from the United Nations Environment Program, plastic pollution is expected to triple by 2040, which would mean between 23 and 37 million tonnes of waste being dumped into the oceans annually, reported The Independent.

A resistant plastic

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The material has the same resistance as petroleum-derived plastics and can be used conventionally, simply requiring a suitable coating.

Friendly to the environment in many ways

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The team is currently focusing its research on the best techniques for applying this coating. Aida explained that the new plastic is non-toxic, non-flammable and does not emit carbon dioxide, as reported by Reuters.

The problems of the new plastic

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The main obstacle to commercializing the new material is the lack of infrastructure for large-scale production, especially when compared to the low costs of conventional plastic.

More research is needed

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Even so, experts are optimistic as the plastic has attracted the interest of large companies and could receive significant investments to continue research.