Japan develops plastic that disappears within hours in the sea and boosts soil health

Researchers in Japan have developed a revolutionary biodegradable plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours and degrades in soil within days, enriching it with nutrients. Unlike traditional plastics, this new material is non-toxic, made from food-safe

Plastic waste and pollution in the ocean have been among the most persistent problems for decades that have caused severe environmental damage and major threats to marine life. But now, it appears that we have a solution that could change everything.

Researchers at the RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science in Japan have designed a revolutionary biodegradable plastic that dissolves in seawater. The material of this plastic is also strong and can be adjusted to fit various uses such as packaging materials to medical devices. The special quality of this plastic lies in the composition, which consists of food-safe components.

It means that the material used is non-toxic, and safe for usage in various industries. The key feature of the plastic is its ability to degrade quickly in natural environments, which addresses one of the biggest challenges of traditional plastics that stay decomposed in the environment for long periods of time.

Traditional plastics take centuries to decompose, and fill oceans and other ecosystems with their residues, which poses more risk to the wildlife and causes pollution. The RIKEN team’s new biodegradable plastic stands in stark contrast to this. This plastic dissolves within hours in seawater, and eliminates the long-term environmental contamination.

In soil, it degrades in 10 days and also improves fertility during its decomposition process. As the plastic breaks down, it turns into organic matter, which enriches the soil with essential nutrients and restores the carbon content of the soil.
With these two benefits of easy biodegradation and soil enrichment during the decomposition process, this material is a preferable option for sustainable waste management. The most significant benefit of this biodegradable plastic is that, when it breaks down, it releases no carbon dioxide. The other plastics that break down and release greenhouse gases, which contribute to the increased level of carbon in the atmosphere, causing climate change.
The new material does not emit any carbon, and helps to reduce carbon emissions globally and fight against climate change. Moreover, the plastic can be easily recycled and reduces virgin plastic production.

It can be used in the production of eco-friendly packaging solutions and reduce the hazardous environmental impact that plastic has on the environment. In the medical field it can be used in various devices and equipment as this is nontoxic and easily customisable.