Time For Biodegradable Plastics To Shine

Today is World Environmental Day, which focuses on calling for collective action to tackle plastic pollution around the world.

However, this is no simple task. While many people think this relates to reducing the use of plastic bags and bottles, which of course it does, it goes way beyond this. While recently attending a circulatory in plastics conference, I was struck by just how much we rely on synthetic polymers (plastics) to improve all aspects of our lives. For example, polymers can be used to improve the properties of shampoo, or provide the slow release of pesticides to help our crops grow. This can then result in the release of microplastics into the environment, in addition to the marco scale plastics such as the shampoo bottle itself.