Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have one-upped themselves in their quest to solve our microplastic problem. They report a new plant-based plastic made from cellulose, the world’s most abundant organic compound. The new plastic is strong, flexible, and capable of rapid decomposition in natural environments, setting it apart from other plastics marketed as biodegradable.
My personal belief is that it’s mostly cool and won’t see any heavy commercialized use in the near future, due to heavy lobbying from the petroleum industry and the whole but-think-of-the-poor-oil-execs gang.
Does stuff like this actually end up being used though? Or is it just a “cool we made this” type of thing that goes nowhere
Glasses frames were made of cellulose plastics from the early 1900s. This could go far because it’s cheap AF.
That’s pretty cool
My personal belief is that it’s mostly cool and won’t see any heavy commercialized use in the near future, due to heavy lobbying from the petroleum industry and the whole but-think-of-the-poor-oil-execs gang.
That’s how it usually goes, unfortunately.