Japan have developed a new plant-based plastic that rapidly decomposes in seawater without leaving microplastics.

 

Researchers in Japan, led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, have developed a new plant-based plastic that rapidly decomposes in seawater without leaving microplastics.

The plastic is made from carboxymethyl cellulose, a derivative of wood pulp, combined with ionic compounds that form strong salt-bridge networks.

These networks make the plastic durable during use, but when exposed to salt water, the bonds break, and the plastic dissolves quickly. A thin protective coating can prevent accidental breakdown before disposal.

Early versions of the plastic were brittle, but adding the FDA-approved plasticizer choline chloride allows it to become flexible.

Depending on the formulation, it can be hard and glass-like or stretchable up to 130% of its original length. It can also be made into transparent films as thin as 0.07 millimeters.

This innovation combines strength, flexibility, and fast decomposition, bringing biodegradable plastics closer to practical use.

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