The discovery could help to solve the world’s escalating plastic waste crisis, which is filling up landfills and polluting oceans. The researchers said the new enzyme has the potential to “supercharge” recycling on a large scale that would allow major industries to reduce their environmental impact by recovering and reusing plastics at the molecular level.
“The possibilities are endless across industries to leverage this leading-edge recycling process,” said Professor Hal Alper, a researcher at UT Austin. “Beyond the obvious waste management industry, this also provides corporations from every sector the opportunity to take a lead in recycling their products. Through these more sustainable enzyme approaches, we can begin to envision a true circular plastics economy.”
The project focuses on PET plastic, a significant polymer found in most consumer packaging, including containers, bottles, fruit and salad packaging, and certain fibres and textiles that...