Japanese scientists have created a plastic that breaks down in seawater within hours, presenting a potential solution to the modern crisis of ocean pollution and its impact on marine life.
Although scientists have been experimenting with biodegradable polymers for a long time, researchers from the University of Tokyo and the RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science claim that their new material decomposes considerably faster and doesn't leave any trace, reports Reuters.
The scientists showed how a little piece of plastic vanished in a container of salt water after being churned for around an hour at a lab in Wako city, which is close to Tokyo.
Project lead Takuzo Aida said that although the team has not yet provided specific plans for commercialization, their research has garnered a lot of interest, notably from the packaging industry.
With the support of awareness campaigns like World Environment Day, which is observed on June 5, scientists from all around the world are creating novel solutions to the expanding plastic trash problem.
According to a UN Environment Program prediction, plastic pollution will triple by 2040, contributing between 23 and 37 million metric tons of rubbish annually to the world's oceans.
“Children cannot choose the planet they will live on. It is our duty as scientists to ensure that we leave them with best possible environment,” Aida said.
According to Aida, the new substance is just as robust as polymers made from petroleum, but when it comes into contact with salt, it disintegrates into its constituent parts.
Natural bacteria can then further break down those components, preventing the production of microplastics that could endanger aquatic life and make their way into the food chain.
A chunk approximately five centimetres (two inches) in size disintegrates on land after more than 200 hours since salt is also found in soil, he added.
When coated, the material may be utilized just like ordinary plastic, and the team is currently concentrating their study on the most effective coating techniques, according to Aida. He stated that the material is non-flammable, non-toxic, and does not release carbon dioxide.
