Contributed by Cassiane Bohn Au, Global Green Chemistry Innovation and Network Program Assistant at Yale University and Ashley Baker, Scientific Content and Community Manager at the ACS Green Chemistry Institute
Between November 25 and December 1, 2024, the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) will convene in Busan, Republic of Korea. Since 2022, these sessions have aimed to finalize a comprehensive strategy for managing the entire life cycle of plastics – including production, design, and disposal.
The need for such global regulation is not just pressing, it's urgent. We are confronted with alarming and stressful news – with varying degrees of truth – from reports that we consume a credit card’s worth of microplastics each week to statistics like plastic waste in the world exceeding the total biomass of all animals. The impacts of plastic pollution are widespread, affecting infrastructure, human health, and ecosystems. According to MIT Technology Review, only 5% of the plastic intended for recycling is actually recycled. Single-use plastics in the environment can clog sewer systems, leading to increased flooding and microplastics making their way into oceans, with yet undetermined impacts on marine life. These contaminants are also found in drinking water, posing health risks that researchers are only beginning to understand. Access to clean water and sanitation is the focus of the sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), meaning that eliminating plastic pollution from water is a critical part of achieving sustainable development worldwide.
The INC sessions, which were requested by the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), are advancing global strategies to address this ongoing issue. Despite the versatility and importance of plastic to modern society, it has been recognized by manufacturers as an environmental problem since the 1950s. In the late 1960s, researchers, industry, and policymakers became aware of significant plastic waste accumulation. However, despite past efforts, such as Massachusetts' attempt to ban single-use plastic in the late 1980s, there is still no international regulation to mitigate plastic pollution.
While the challenge of plastic pollution – especially in water sources – remains daunting, there is hope in the field of green chemistry. This innovative field not only acknowledges the problem but also offers a promising path toward a future where renewable, bio-based materials can serve as safer alternatives to traditional non-renewables-based plastics. Several startups featured in our Safer Alternatives database are exploring the use of seaweed as compostable material. Seaweed, one of the most abundant biomass sources on the planet, grows rapidly without requiring fertilizers or freshwater – meaning it has good potential as an environmentally friendly alternative to existing plastics. For example, Sway is developing Thermoplastic Seaweed Resin (TPSea™) technology, which is bio-based pellets for use with existing plastic manufacturing systems. This technology can be applied to various plastic products, ranging from polybags and food wrappers to customized packaging. Notpla, a play on “not plastic,” focuses on food containers that can be recycled with paper or composted at home. This startup also offers rigid cutlery, paper, and food oil pipettes, and is working on prototypes for dry food and bath oil sachets. Loliware, on the other hand, focuses on seaweed-based straws designed to disappear (or be eaten after you finish your drink).
Although these technologies are still in development or early commercialization stages, they offer a glimpse of a plant-powered future where plastic is replaced with truly sustainable alternatives.
As these startups demonstrate, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about how traditional plastics can be replaced with innovative, practical alternatives created through green chemistry. By highlighting companies like Sway, Notpla, and Loliware in our Safer Alternatives database, we aim to inspire further advancements in using sustainable materials in everyday products. Solutions like seaweed-based materials exemplify how creative, science-driven strategies can bring us closer to achieving the global goal of ensuring clean water and sanitation for all. As more governments, scientists, and industries around the world take action to mitigate plastic pollution, the closer we’ll be to a future where international and cross-disciplinary collaboration results in improved materials and broad policies that protect people and the planet.
