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So far, material engineering has not been able to produce a single, convenient replacement for traditional plastics. But it has developed a variety of clever plastic alternatives, which, taken together, could significantly reduce society’s plastic waste: mushroom-based materials, algae-based materials, and stone wool products have all shown initial promise.
But what if we could keep the best parts of plastics while removing the worst? That was the attitude adopted by both the winners and the runners-up in the 2019 Making And Designing Materials Engineering Contest (MADMEC), hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The first-place team, ecoTrio, proposed a biodegradable plastic alternative that blended three materials. The first material is an easily degradable polymer that, on its own, would be too expensive to compete with mainstream plastics on its own. But the second material is a cheap, scalable, and biodegradable plastic polymer, and the third material consists of fine-grained wood particles. The second and third materials are proprietary to the ecoTrio team, but, together, lower the cost of the plastic blend and allow its strength and flexibility to be tuned to a manufacturer’s specific needs.
The 2019 MADMEC runner-up, PETTIGREW, also sought to tackle the plastic waste problem, though through different means. The PETTIGREW team incorporated a decomposition-causing bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, into plastics as they were being produced. Combined with a sugar filler, the resulting plastic could still sustain itself at the high temperatures required to shape and mold traditional plastics, with only minimal effects on the product’s overall strength and flexibility.
Postponed due to Covid-19 in 2020, materials engineers will return to MADMEC in 2021, and those interested in plastic alternatives will be eager to learn if the competitive field arrives with further innovations on plastics, and plastic decomposability.
Corporate attitudes around plastics have changed significantly in the 21st century. Coca-Cola has set a goal of collecting and recycling the equivalent of 100 percent of its packaging by 2030. Other major corporations like PepsiCo and Unilever have committed to converting to 100 percent recyclable packaging by 2025. Lego is experimenting with prototype bricks made entirely from recycled plastic bottles.
Consumer habits are changing, too. Bans on plastic straws and plastic bags have popped up in states across the country. Bamboo toothbrushes, cloth shopping bags, steel straws, and other alternatives to single-use plastic products are becoming more accessible.
A completely plastic-free world may still be a long way off, but for one month out of the year, for millions of people, it’s a reality.
Whether you’re interested in using material engineering to help reduce plastic waste, or you’re just looking for ways to contribute to a less wasteful environment through your own consumer behaviors, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineering faculty at top universities, highlighting their research in areas such as nuclear power, artificial intelligence, soft robotics, and semiconductor design. He’s also worked with leaders and subject matter experts at the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
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