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22 results for "bioplastics"
Scientists just discovered that dozens of animal species can digest microbial bioplastics that have existed for hundreds of millions of years. This hidden talent could reshape how we understand nature's recycling systems and the future of sustainable materials.
Stellenbosch University researchers developed yeast that degrades biodegradable plastic into usable components, earning recognition among 20 patents granted in 2025. The innovation could transform how the world manages plastic waste.
Researchers worldwide are transforming food waste and natural materials into plastics that actually break down in nature. From orange peels to chicken feathers, these innovations could replace up to 90% of fossil-based plastics.
A University of Missouri scientist engineered algae that attracts and removes microplastics from water while cleaning wastewater and creating useful bioplastic products. The breakthrough could transform how cities treat water and tackle plastic pollution.
Stellenbosch University honored researchers whose innovations earned patents in 2025, including a breakthrough yeast that breaks down bioplastics. The awards showcase how African scientists are solving real environmental and health challenges with world-changing discoveries.
Stellenbosch University researchers earned 20 patents this year for innovations tackling everything from plastic waste to disease detection. One breakthrough uses modified yeast to break down bioplastics, offering hope for our planet's waste crisis.
Scientists discovered a powerful enzyme in forest soil bacteria that can dismantle both plant-based plastic and penicillin-type antibiotics. The breakthrough suggests nature is adapting faster than expected to help solve our plastic pollution crisis.
Louisiana State University students developed 3D-printed beads that dissolve naturally and grow okra plants, offering a solution to the 46 tons of plastic beads that clogged New Orleans storm drains. Three parade krewes are testing the PlantMe Beads this Carnival season.
Three friends in Kerala saw plastic bottles choking their state's famous backwaters and created Bakwa—bottles that look like plastic but break down in just six months. Made from sugarcane and cornstarch, these biodegradable bottles are already changing how people think about everyday packaging.
After twice facing financial ruin and relying on food aid, Francisco "Curro" Rodríguez built Ly Company into one of Europe's fastest-growing water packaging companies. His sustainable carton-packaged water now reaches 3,000 brands across airlines, hotels, and major events worldwide.
Scientists have developed a plastic made from hemp that matches the strength and durability of traditional PET plastic used in bottles and packaging. This plant-based breakthrough could offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow invented circuit boards that are 99% compostable, offering a breakthrough solution to the growing mountain of electronic waste. The zinc-based circuits can safely decompose in soil or dissolve in vinegar while performing just as well as traditional boards.
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Spain's Princess Leonor delivered a powerful speech redefining success by celebrating everyday innovators over celebrities. The 20-year-old future queen told hundreds her true "influencers" are scientists, social workers, and problem-solvers quietly changing the world. #
Scientists engineered algae that smells like oranges to magnetically attract and remove tiny plastic particles from drinking water. The breakthrough could clean wastewater, reduce pollution, and transform captured plastics into safer materials. #
Eight types of seaweed growing along India's 7,500-kilometer coastline are being transformed into everyday products from ice cream to laboratory equipment. The emerging seaweed industry could reach $11.8 billion globally by 2030, offering sustainable alternatives that need no farmland or freshwater.
London researchers built a reactor that turns carbon dioxide and water into living bacteria using only sunlight, opening the door to sustainable chemicals, plastics, and protein without fossil fuels. The breakthrough mimics photosynthesis but gives scientists total control over what gets produced.
Major retailers are ditching plastic for seaweed packaging over the next decade, creating a $122 billion industry that's good for both business and the planet. Twenty companies worldwide are already turning ocean plants into everything from food wrappers to shipping materials.
Twelve emerging designers just received over $500,000 to create fashion's sustainable future. Their work ranges from growing their own silkworms to turning invasive species into wearable art.
A 27-year-old Delhi designer is transforming kitchen waste and fallen leaves into beautiful plates and footwear that people actually want to buy. Her company YLEM now ships 400 pairs of leaf slippers monthly while keeping tons of waste out of landfills.
A Dutch crew just harvested the first commercial seaweed crop ever grown between working offshore wind turbines, proving the same ocean space can produce both clean energy and sustainable food. The five-hectare farm turned what was once restricted dead space into double-duty ocean real estate.
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