Scientists have developed a new chemical upcycling process that could help reduce plastic waste and support a more sustainable circular economy.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau have discovered a way to transform common plastics into more environmentally friendly materials that degrade faster and more easily.
The method focuses on converting widely used plastics, including materials found in food packaging and 3D printing, into a type of biodegradable plastic known as a polythionoester. Researchers say the process could help address mounting concerns over global plastic pollution and long-term landfill waste.
Most plastics currently in circulation are not biodegradable, while existing eco-friendly alternatives often require harsh chemicals or high temperatures to break down. The newly developed process alters the chemical structure of existing plastics by replacing oxygen atoms with sulphur atoms using a simple one-step treatment.
This creates weaker carbon-sulphur bonds within the material, allowing the plastics to break down more readily while also changing their physical properties.
Researchers successfully tested the method on polycaprolactone, a biodegradable plastic already used in packaging, biomedical implants and additive manufacturing.
The team says the process is scalable and could potentially be adapted for a wider range of plastics in future, supporting efforts to reduce emissions linked to plastic production and waste management.
Dr Jennifer Garden, who co-led the study, said: “What makes this discovery so exciting is that we’ve successfully developed a strategy that opens the door to a whole new range of sulfur-containing materials.”
The findings were published in the journal Chem Circularity and supported by international sustainability research funding bodies.
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