The article from The Guardian highlights an exciting innovation in tackling the plastic waste crisis—plastic-eating bacteria. This discovery started in 2001 when Japanese scientists found bacteria at a rubbish dump capable of breaking down plastic into basic nutrients. The bacteria, later named Ideonella sakaiensis, produce an enzyme (PETase) that can degrade PET plastics, the most commonly used plastic in bottles and packaging.
Since then, scientists have been working to "supercharge" these enzymes to make the process faster and more efficient. For example, researchers in France have engineered enzymes to break down plastics into their building blocks, allowing them to be reused to produce new plastics. French company Carbios has even started using this technology on an industrial scale, processing 250kg of plastic daily—paving the way for more sustainable recycling processes. However, this process still consumes energy and produces byproducts, leaving room for further optimization.
The exciting potential of enzymes goes beyond recycling. Microbes in the wild, such as those found in polluted environments like mangroves or landfills, may already have solutions for breaking down even more types of plastics. Efforts to explore and engineer plastic-degrading microbes continue, but challenges remain regarding scaling up, costs, and regulatory barriers.
While amazing innovations thankfully are taking place, over the past two decades since this bacteria was found, plastic pollution has escalated into a global crisis. During this time, humanity has generated an estimated 2.5 billion tons of plastic waste, with annual production reaching 380 million tons—and this number is expected to triple by 2060. Vast patches of plastic debris, such as the one in the Pacific Ocean, is seven times the size of Great Britain, contaminate our seas. Meanwhile, plastic waste continues to overwhelm beaches and landfills worldwide. On a microscopic level, microplastics and nanoplastics have infiltrated ecosystems, even entering fruits and vegetables through plant roots, and have been detected in nearly all human organs, as well as in breast milk, highlighting the pervasive nature of this pollution.
The "supercharging" of enzymes technology is certainly promising, but there's still a long way to go in creating widespread, efficient solutions to manage plastic pollution. For now, innovations like these highlight the critical role science and nature can play in reducing humanity's waste footprint.
At GoSili, we’re committed to sustainability by steering clear of toxic materials and eliminating plastic from our products and packaging. Instead, we rely on recyclable materials like paper and aluminum, as well as 100% pure silicone—free from fillers and harmful chemicals.
We are constantly inspired by groundbreaking innovations aimed at tackling the global plastic waste crisis as mentioned above. Discover more about our dedication to a greener future on our blog!
