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Rutgers Chemists Create Fast-Breaking Biodegradable Plastics

11/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Rutgers University chemists have developed a method to engineer DNA-inspired biodegradable plastics.
The technique enables plastics to break down in days to years, avoiding centuries of environmental pollution.
In 2022, over a quarter of a billion tonnes of plastic were discarded globally, with only 14% recycled.
The method shows promise for short-lived products like food packaging, but requires ultraviolet light and testing to ensure non-toxic fragments before use.

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Story summary

Rutgers University chemists have developed a method to engineer DNA-inspired biodegradable plastics.
The technique enables plastics to break down in days to years, avoiding centuries of environmental pollution.
In 2022, over a quarter of a billion tonnes of plastic were discarded globally, with only 14% recycled.
The method shows promise for short-lived products like food packaging, but requires ultraviolet light and testing to ensure non-toxic fragments before use.