Researchers invent a revolutionary type of plastic that can completely biodegrade on its own:

Plastics have problems, and researchers working on alternatives to compostable plastic are determined to find solutions.

Starting with PLA (polylactic acid), a bioplastic widely used in packaging, researchers at Michigan State University added bio-based thermoplastic starch until they found a "sweet spot" mix with greater potential for composting that doesn't compromise the usability of the plastic.

The researchers reported their results in the June 20 issue of ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Through their work, the scientists aim to address problems not only with standard plastics, but also with alternatives.

Conventional plastics made from petroleum are convenient but toxic to people's health and the planet. They can take hundreds of years to decompose, and their production and disposal contribute to heat-trapping gases overheating the planet.

Sources vary on exact numbers, but only 5% to 10% of American plastic is recycled. Greenpeace called plastic recycling “a failed concept” because most plastic ends up as trash or landfill even when placed in recycling bins.

"By developing biodegradable and compostable products, we can divert some of that waste," Rafael Auras, an MSU professor who led the new research, told MSUToday.

Currently, plastic alternatives labeled “biodegradable” or “compostable” are also complicated and confusing. They can be made from renewable, non-toxic materials (like corn sugar) and generate fewer heat-trapping gases. But they generally only degrade with concentrations of heat and microbes in industrial compost, and are problematic even in industrial facilities.

Plus, if you've ever wondered what the best way to dispose of a compostable bin is, you're not alone. Bioplastics baffle consumers.

The new mix of PLA and starch would simplify decisions because it would make the packaging truly compostable, even in a garden container.

The starch "gives the composting microbes something they can more easily devour while the PLA degrades," MSUToday explained.

If more plastics are composted than recycled, the resources spent (in time, water and energy) on contaminant removal are also reduced. This is one of the headaches of plastic recycling. But it is often not necessary to clean food waste from a compost bin.

While the new research shows that "fully compostable" plastic is possible, Auras and her team point out that this does not guarantee its commercial use in the short term. And people will need to be educated about the composting conditions necessary to break down bioplastics so that consumers don't see a “biodegradable” label and assume it's okay to throw away trash.

Reducing plastic production and reusing containers already produced are other important parts of addressing the impacts of plastic.

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