Ditch Your Guilt! MSU's New Plastic Melts in Your Backyard!

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Michigan State University (MSU) researchers have unveiled a bio-based polymer blend that's compostable both in industrial settings and backyards.

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The study, led by Professor Rafael Auras, appeared in the ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering journal.

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“The alarming rates at which plastic waste accumulates necessitate innovative solutions,” said Professor Auras.

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Central to the innovation is polylactic acid (PLA), a green material derived from plant sugars.

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PLA typically degrades under intense conditions found in industrial composters, not in home compost setups.

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The MSU team incorporated 'thermoplastic starch' into the PLA to enhance its degradability.

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Despite its feasibility, widespread commercial acceptance of this bio-based plastic packaging remains uncertain.

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The public must understand that biodegradable does not mean instant degradation.

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“Our research represents just one angle. There's no magic bullet to address all plastic waste,” remarked Mayekar.

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