Since the invention of plastics in 1907, our world quickly became dependent on these versatile materials. Plastics are present in appliances, electronics, furniture, and are often used as packaging materials for food (just take a closer look at your refrigerator.)

Although plastics have made our lives much easier, today we are faced with a global crisis primarily due to the poor management of plastic waste.

By 2018, estimates suggested that of 8.3 billion US tons of plastic manufactured worldwide, 6.9 billion US tons of plastic waste were generated. Of this plastic waste, only 21 percent was recycled or incinerated, while 79 percent accumulated in landfills and in our natural environment.

The effect of this overwhelming amount of plastic waste is already showing. Seabirds and turtles can inadvertently swallow plastic debris or even mistake it for food. Nearly invisible plastics known as microplastics have already been detected on the ocean floor, soils, sediments, and freshwater, largely impacting the food chain.

Although legal mechanisms such as plastic bag bans are a promising way to reduce plastic waste, their sole implementation would not be enough. Plastics are highly resistant to degradation, taking as long as 1,000 years. Finding a way to decompose what is already out there in our landfills is critical.

One possible way to do this is through the use of enzymes.

#pollution #environment #innovation #sustainability #science #data science