Scientists have found a way to turn food scraps into biodegradable plastics using bacteria, offering a promising solution to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
This breakthrough, developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo, creates a new kind of soft, flexible plastic that could be used for items like food wraps, drug delivery, and even tissue repair.
The process relies on bacteria called Pseudomonas putida, which eat food waste and produce a type of eco-friendly plastic called PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates).
Unlike traditional plastics, PHAs naturally break down in compost, soil, fresh water, or seawater without leaving harmful residues behind.
This makes them an excellent choice for single-use plastics that won’t harm the environment.
Dr. Trevor Charles, a biology professor and co-author of the study, highlighted the innovation’s potential.
“Using food waste to feed bacteria that make bioplastics is a game-changer. It could significantly reduce production costs,” he explained.
The team’s study, titled Production and Characterization of Biopolymer from Food Waste Using Pseudomonas putida, was recently published in the journal ACS ES&T Engineering.
While the bacteria can already make this biodegradable plastic, there’s a challenge: the process of extracting the plastic from bacterial cells is expensive.
Dr. Tizazu Mekonnen, a professor of chemical engineering and another co-author, shared the team’s focus on making this step cheaper and easier.
“Our goal is to develop a cost-effective extraction method so this process can be used on a larger scale,” he said.
This innovative approach not only offers a solution to plastic pollution but also supports a circular economy. It takes food waste—a problem in itself—and turns it into a valuable material.
The next steps involve optimizing the production process and scaling it up for commercial use. If successful, this research could pave the way for widespread adoption of biodegradable plastics, reducing the environmental damage caused by traditional plastics and providing a sustainable use for leftover food.
This exciting work shows how science can create practical, eco-friendly solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Turning table scraps into plastic is no longer just an idea—it’s becoming a reality.
