Experts at Kobe University in Japan have pioneered an innovative way to produce green plastics. A team of bioengineers is using bacteria to create a plastic modifier to produce green plastics from renewable sources that are more processable. This new sustainable plastic process has the potential for industrial-scale production, a development that could make the industry more environmentally friendly.
A shift in plastics production patterns
Plastics are an integral part of modern civilization and have long been associated with environmental degradation due to their persistence and reliance on non-renewable resources such as crude oil.
In search of a sustainable alternative to plastic, researchers turned to plant-derived polylactic acid (PLA). However, the inherent brittleness and poor degradability of PLA have hindered its widespread adoption.
To overcome these challenges, bioengineers at Kobe University teamed up with Kaneka.
