MIT researchers have identified how communities of ocean bacteria cooperate to decompose biodegradable plastics, a finding ...

Biodegradable plastics could help alleviate the plastic waste crisis that is polluting the environment and harming our health ...

Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery ...

Multiple research teams across the globe have developed biodegradable packaging materials built from plant fibers, producing films and papers that rival the mechanical strength of petroleum-based ...

Biodegradable plastics don’t break down on their own. Researchers found ocean microbes play a key role, and results can vary widely.

Plastic pollution is one of the most defining environmental challenges of our time. Despite efforts to recycle or responsibly dispose of plastic, vast garbage patches in the oceans continue to grow, ...

Researchers overcame the tradeoff between plastic toughness and degradability by developing plastics with movable crosslinks. The crosslinks both increased toughness by over eight times and increased ...

Biodegradable mulch films are widely promoted as a sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural plastics, yet their breakdown in soil remains poorly understood. A new study reveals that plant ...

The logistics sector remains heavily dependent on polyethylene films for pallet covers, ULD protection, and stretch wrapping, ...

At the urging of the plastics industry, the USDA is considering allowing materials such as bioplastic cups, coffee pods and compostable plastic bags into the organic compost waste stream. Farmers and ...

Microplastics cause decreases in the populations of grazing animals in ponds, ultimately resulting in toxic algal blooms.