A team of Japanese researchers has made an important step in the fight against ocean pollution, developing an innovative plastic that dissolves in seawater in just a few hours. The material, created at RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, degrades much faster than conventional plastics and does not leave any residue, thus protecting marine life, according to IPN citing Reuters.
In a experiment carried out in a laboratory in the city of Wako, near Tokyo, the researchers have demonstrated that a small piece of this plastic completely disappears in a container with salt water after an hour of continuous shaking.
Although there is currently no plan for product commercialization, project leader Takuzo Aida stated that the product has already attracted the interest of the packaging industry.
This innovation comes at a crucial moment, when the issue of plastic waste is becoming increasingly serious on a global level. Efforts to develop biodegradable materials are supported by international awareness campaigns, such as World Environment Day, celebrated this week on June 5th.
