A study led by the University of California has proven that a bacteria with a plastic-based diet help reduce plastic pollution by embedding these microbes into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This later helps to degrade it quickly after coming into contact with soil and moisture. TPU is common in products such as footwear, mobile phone cases, or car parts. Currently, there is no recycling flow for polyurethanes, and most end up as waste in landfills or seep into the environment at the end of their useful life. The study co-senior author Jon Pokorski, a nanoengineering professor at the UC San Diego … Continue reading Scientists Embed Bacteria in Plastic to Accelerate Biodegradation, Revolutionizing Waste Management