New biodegradable packaging could address plastic pollution problem
Scientists have been working on producing the material for eight years and it has been designed to replace conventional plastic packaging. It is composed of polyurethane foam and dissolves in seawater and land-based composts. The researchers worked alongside marine biologists to test the material in natural nearshore ecosystems, which is where disposed plastic is most likely to end up. Improper disposal of plastic in oceans has led to an environmental crisis, but the research team believe this new biodegradable packaging could make advances in solving plastic pollution issues in our oceans. The team carried out further tests on the biodegradable packaging with experts in biology, polymer and synthetic chemistry, and marine science. They exposed their polyurethane foam samples to tidal and wave dynamics and tracked for molecular and physical changes using infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.