Biodegradable plastics are sold as a simple fix for a world drowning in packaging, but the reality is far messier than the marketing suggests. Labels that promise bags, cups, and utensils will ...

The accumulation of plastic waste in natural environments is of utmost concern, as it is contributing to the destruction of ecosystems and is causing harm to aquatic life. In recent years, material ...

You grab a compostable coffee cup from the office kitchen, feel quietly good about it, and toss it into your backyard compost ...

A new type of bioplastic could help reduce the plastic industry's environmental footprint. Researchers have developed a biodegradable form of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) filled with bacterial ...

In a world pressing towards sustainability, the shift from traditional fossil-based plastics to biobased alternatives is gaining momentum. Understanding these materials' intricacies is crucial for ...

Several new projects turn waste into food for microbes that create PHA, a type of plastic that fully decomposes on its own, offering a less costly alternative to current bioplastics. This fork made of ...

This bag of tomatoes is made from the new plant-based plastic that uses FDA-approved ingredients. Watch as the bag completely dissolves in artificial seawater after just a few hours, without leaving ...

Switching to biodegradable plastics could slash toxic pollution by more than a third and dramatically reduce global waste by mid-century but only if cities and companies invest in the right disposal ...

Strips of plain TPU (top) and "living" TPU (bottom) at different stages of decomposition over five months of being in compost. A new type of bioplastic could help reduce the plastic industry’s ...