05 Jul 2022 --- The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland is unveiling a PET-like plastic “made easily” from the non-edible parts of plants. The plastic is tough, heat-resistant, and a good barrier to gasses like oxygen, making it a promising candidate for food packaging, the EPFL scientists say. Due to its structure, the new plastic can also be chemically recycled and degrade back to harmless sugars in the environment.“It is becoming increasingly obvious that moving away from fossil fuels and avoiding the accumulation of plastics in the environment are key to addressing the challenge of climate change. In that vein, there are considerable efforts to develop degradable or recyclable polymers made from non-edible plant material referred to as ‘lignocellulosic biomass,’” the scientists explain.
