Plastic does not decompose; all the plastic that has ever been produced and has ended up in the environment is still present in one form or another. Demand for plastic is rising with it the piles of garbage.
Now, scientists have created a new form of bioplastic to address this danger to health and the environment.
Biodegradable bioplastics could provide an alternative to conventional plastic
Scientists have created the protein-based plastic from a vanilla bean extract that remains stable throughout its lifetime. This new form of bioplastic is easily processable, biodegradable, and biocompatible.
Vanilla is a common flavoring agent, it is also used in cosmetics and many cleaning products. Scientists used vanillin, the main chemical component of vanilla bean extract to create this tough, transparent, solvent-resistant bioplastic.
The vanillin-based bioplastic could be degraded with light to eliminate waste
This environmentally-friendly form of plastic can also self-destruct on command in response to a specific wavelength of light. When subjected to this form of light, a chemical reaction takes place that triggers the degradation of the polymer.
