Overview

• The novel polymer dissolves in seawater within hours, breaking down into its original components for bacterial processing and avoiding microplastics.
• In lab tests, a small sample fully disappeared in stirred saltwater after about an hour, and a 5cm piece disintegrated on land in just over 200 hours due to soil salt.
• The material is non-toxic, non-flammable, and emits no carbon dioxide during decomposition.
• Current research focuses on identifying coating methods that provide strength and usability comparable to petroleum-based plastics.
• The innovation has drawn significant interest from packaging companies as the UN warns plastic pollution could triple by 2040, adding tens of millions of tons to oceans annually.