Scientists create plastic that degrades 15 times faster than paper in the sea

Researchers have been investigating the biodegradation of plastics in the ocean for years, seeking to uncover which types break down the fastest. As millions of tons of plastic continue to enter our oceans each year, understanding the biodegradability of different plastics has become critical.

A new discovery by scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) could be a game changer in the battle against ocean plastic pollution.

They have found that cellulose diacetate (CDA), a bioplastic in use for over 100 years, degrades faster in marine environments than any other known plastic. Even more exciting, the team has figured out how to accelerate the process.

Cellulose diacetate: The fastest-degrading bioplastic

CDA is a bioplastic derived from cellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, most notably in cotton and wood pulp. Since its development in the late 1800s, CDA has found its way into a wide range of products, from sunglasses and cigarette filters to photography film. It’s a versatile material that we encounter in our daily lives without even realizing it.

According to WHOI researchers, CDA is the fastest-degrading plastic in seawater when compared to other bioplastics. By introducing a modification process called “foaming,” where the material is made porous, CDA can degrade up to 15 times faster than its solid form. In fact, foamed CDA even degrades faster than paper, which is often considered one of the most eco-friendly materials.

Collin Ward, a senior author of the study, emphasized the significance of the findings, “We translated the foundational knowledge into the design of a new material that simultaneously meets consumer needs and degrades in the ocean faster than any other plastic material we know of, even faster than paper.”

“It’s a great success story in a field that often focuses on the negative aspects of plastic pollution rather than working towards solutions to the problem,” Ward added in the press release.

The research team conducted a 36-week test where CDA foam was placed in tanks filled with continually flowing seawater. The results were striking—65-70% of the material’s original mass was lost, indicating rapid biodegradation.

In contrast, common plastics like Styrofoam showed no degradation at all during the same period. This demonstrates the potential of CDA foam to significantly reduce the long-lasting environmental impact of plastics in the ocean.

Foamed CDA: A step toward a cleaner future

One of the most promising aspects of this research is the potential for CDA to replace some of the most problematic plastics in our daily lives. For example, Ward and his colleagues at WHOI partnered with Eastman, a bioplastic manufacturing company, to explore the commercial applications of foamed CDA.

Eastman has already launched a biodegradable and compostable tray made from foamed CDA as an alternative to Styrofoam meat trays, which do not degrade under any natural conditions, whether on land or in water.

The study’s findings could help steer industries away from traditional plastics and toward more eco-friendly alternatives. The success of foamed CDA suggests that this material could be used in a wide range of products, reducing the amount of persistent plastic waste in the ocean.

Ward’s team carried out the study in a controlled laboratory environment using seawater from Martha’s Vineyard Sound near Cape Cod, Massachusetts. By carefully regulating variables like light, temperature, and water flow, the researchers were able to simulate real-world ocean conditions. This approach provided them with a reliable indication of how CDA would perform in natural marine environments.

Earlier this year, WHOI published the results of a 16-week study that compared the degradation of various types of straws made from different materials, including CDA, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP), and paper.

The study revealed that PLA and PP straws showed no measurable degradation, while the others degraded by up to 50%. Foamed CDA straws, however, degraded 190% faster than solid CDA straws, further reinforcing the material’s potential as a superior biodegradable plastic.

A future without plastic pollution?

The implications of this research extend far beyond just CDA. As plastics continue to be a major source of pollution in marine environments, finding faster-degrading alternatives like foamed CDA could help mitigate the damage.

The discovery that foamed CDA degrades even faster than paper could revolutionize the way we approach packaging, manufacturing, and everyday items.

Eastman’s new biodegradable tray made from foamed CDA is just the beginning. With further research and development, foamed CDA and similar bioplastics could replace harmful plastics in a wide range of applications. This would not only reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste but also move us closer to a future where our oceans are no longer choked with persistent plastics.

The findings of the research have been published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering .