Michigan State University researchers fin way to make plastics more biodegradable

In Michigan, researchers from Michigan State University’s School of Packaging have developed a way to make a promising, sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics more biodegradable. The researchers made a bio-based polymer blend that’s compostable in both home and industrial settings. The work is published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

With this technology, plastics destined for the compost bin wouldn’t need to be cleaned of food contaminants, which is a major obstacle for efficient plastic recycling. Recycling facilities routinely must choose between spending time, water and energy to clean dirty plastic waste or simply throwing it out.