r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Feb 20 '21

Chemistry Chemists developed two sustainable plastic alternatives to polyethylene, derived from plants, that can be recycled with a recovery rate of more than 96%, as low-waste, environmentally friendly replacements to conventional fossil fuel-based plastics. (Nature, 17 Feb)

https://academictimes.com/new-plant-based-plastics-can-be-chemically-recycled-with-near-perfect-efficiency/
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u/Sabot15 Feb 20 '21

Also, while I can't speak for the biorefining processes used here, the starting point for this chemistry is derived from oleic acid (soap) which is cheap and easily obtained. It doesn't have to come from million year old oil like most of our plastics.

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u/Creshal Feb 21 '21

OTOH it's not exactly a waste product we have millions of tons of just lying around waiting to be used. We'd have to intensify vegetable oil production significantly to meet demand, and that's already causing plenty of environmental problems as is due to illegal palm oil farming etc.