Traditional plastic forks shed harmful microplastics. Plastic created from sugar is an alternative
The company says its sugar-fed polymers break down in compost within six months and could replace food-soiled plastic items.
- A Massachusetts lab creates pebble-sized pellets into forks and films that do not release harmful microplastics into the environment.
- CJ Biomaterials produces plant-based polymers by fermenting sugar, resulting in materials that microbes can consume.
- Traditional plastics last for decades or centuries, breaking down into harmful microplastics and nanoplastics.
- Bioplastics are either biobased, made from renewable resources like corn or sugar cane, or biodegradable, breaking down via natural processes.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Associated Press News
Traditional plastic forks shed harmful microplastics. Plastic created from sugar is an alternative
At a Massachusetts lab, pebble-sized pellets are transformed into forks and films that won’t leave microplastics in the environment. These are bioplastic pellets.
Only 9% of the plastic produced each year actually end up recycled. Arya Satheesh, 18, refused to settle for it. This student from Letterkenny, in the Irish county of Donegal, designed Eco Purge. This plastic of plant origin degrades in about two weeks. By decomposing, he releases an enzyme into the soil or in the water. This enzyme then attacks the microplastics already present around him. On 11 May 2026, the project won the Europe category of …
Microplastics not only threaten marine biodiversity: they could also reduce the capacity of the oceans to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. By analysing the impact of these particles on phytoplankton, researchers show that plastic pollution is disrupting...
Marine microplastics retain concerning plastic-additive chemicals even
Plastic pollution may be carrying a hidden chemical payload across Japan’s coastal waters. A study led by researchers at Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies has found that floating microplastics and larger plastic debris contain a wide range of additives and environmental contaminants, including antioxidants, plasticizers, ultraviolet stabilizers, flame retardants, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The findings suggest that …
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