Overview

• In a Tokyo-area lab demonstration, researchers showed that a transparent plastic sample dissolved in salty water in about an hour.
• The polymer matches the strength of conventional petroleum plastics while offering fire resistance and non-toxicity without releasing carbon dioxide.
• Exposure to salt triggers the material to revert to its original monomers, which naturally occurring bacteria then process to prevent any microplastic or nanoplastic contamination.
• The protective coating under development aims to enhance the polymer’s durability in packaging and consumer products.
• The United Nations Environment Programme predicts ocean plastic waste will triple by 2040, underscoring the urgency for alternatives such as this seawater-degradable polymer.