A sample sheet of the new biodegradable plastic – RIKEN
Today’s good news comes from New Atlas Science, Tech & Innovation News. The story was brought to my attention by Noelle Granger.
New plastic dissolves in the ocean overnight, leaving no microplastics
Plastics are durable and strong, which is great while they’re being used but frustrating when they end up in the environment. Scientists at RIKEN in Japan have developed a new type of plastic that’s just as stable in everyday use but dissolves quickly in saltwater, leaving behind safe compounds.
The benefit of plastics is that they’re made with strong covalent bonds that hold their molecules together, meaning they take a lot of energy to break. This is why they’re so sturdy, long-lasting and perfect for everything from packaging to toys.
But those same strong bonds become a problem after the useful life of a plastic product is over. That cup you used once and threw away will sit in landfill for decades, even centuries, before it fully breaks down. And when it does, it forms microplastic pieces that are turning up in all corners of the natural world, including our own bodies, where they wreak havoc on our health in ways we’re only just beginning to understand.
RIKEN researchers have now developed a new type of plastic that can work just as well as the regular stuff when it’s needed, and break down readily into safe compounds when it’s not. It’s made of what are known as supramolecular polymers, which have reversible bonds that function like sticky notes that can be attached, removed and reattached, according to the team.
The team wanted to make a specific type of supramolecular polymer that would be strong enough for the usual uses of plastic, but could also be made to break down quickly when required, under mild conditions and leaving only non-toxic compounds.
After screening a range of molecules, the researchers identified a particular combination that seemed to have the right properties – sodium hexametaphosphate, which is a common food additive, and monomers based on guanidinium ions, which are used in fertilizers. When these two compounds are mixed together in water, they form a viscous material that can be dried to form plastics.
A reaction between the two ingredients forms “salt bridges” between the molecules that make the material strong and flexible, like conventional plastic. However, when they’re soaked in saltwater, the electrolytes unlock those bonds, and the material dissolves.
In practice, the team found that the material was just as strong as normal plastic during use, and was non-flammable, colorless and transparent. Immersed in saltwater though, the plastic completely dissolved in about eight and a half hours.
There’s one major hurdle with any degradable plastic material of course: what if it comes into contact with the catalyst for its destruction before you want it to? A plastic cup is no good if certain liquids can dissolve it, after all.
In this case, the team found that applying hydrophobic coatings prevented any early breaking down of the material. When you eventually want to dispose of it, a simple scratch on the surface was enough to let the saltwater back in, allowing the material to dissolve just as quickly as the non-coated sheets.
While some biodegradable plastics can still leave behind harmful microplastics, this material breaks down into nitrogen and phosphorus, which are useful nutrients for plants and microbes. That said, too much of these can be disruptive to the environment as well, so the team suggests the best process might be to do the bulk of the recycling in specialized plants, where the resulting elements can be retrieved for future use.
But if some of it does end up in the ocean, it will be far less harmful, and possibly even beneficial, compared to current plastic waste.
A paper describing the research was published in the journal Science.
The good news in this story is further action is being taken to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans. Today’s JohnKu talks about our oceans. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
More by John W. Howell © 2025
More needs to be done,
To help clean up our oceans . . .
They are our lifeline.
Fiction Favorites 
Outstanding, John. The oceans could sure use a break!!
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That is for sure, GP. 😊
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🦀🐡🐟🐬🐳🐠🦐🦞
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😀
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WOW, what a success. Thanks for letting us know, dear John.
We hope that it’s affordable.
Wishing you a great weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Affordable is a key ingredient. I hope the F4oC has a fabulous weekend.
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This is wonderful news, John. Scientists are essential. Every time I hear about another fantastic discovery, I am so chuffed.
Of course, it worries me that people will be even less prone to be careful as now they won’t worry about it. (Mind you, those who don’t worry about anything won’t give a rat’s ass, either.)
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Well, at least not being careful won’t carry the danger it does today. Thanks, Dale.
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Yes, absolutely!
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Awesome. Combine this with ways to get rid of existing plastic waste and we’re on the right track.
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Might make significant strides in your lifetime.
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This is so interesting. It’s important to know people are trying. Bad stuff rates headlines, but your good news is important too.
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For sure. Thanks, Craig.
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That’s amazing! Thanks for the ray of sunshine on a dark day, John!
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Always willing to be a ray. Thank you, Lori.
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This is terrific news!
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Yes, it is. 😊
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It’s great that they came up with that, and nice that you acknowledged it and shared it. It should have positive results.
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I hope so, Tim. I lived on the Gulf for ten years, and the plastic waste is horrendous.
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Any discussion of how we get microplastics into our bodies is frightening. There is virtually nothing that doesn’t release them. So this gave me great encouragement. And it needs to come fast!
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I agree. Thanks, Noelle for sending the article.
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Definitely they are headed in the right direction. We’ve needed something like this for a long time.
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I agree, Deborah. This is a real breakthrough.
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This is amazing news, John. A huge step forward! Thank you for brightening the day! 🌞
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I’m glad I could do that, Gwen. Thanks for the lovely comment
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Anything to decrease pollution in the oceans is good news. Thanks for sharing, John!
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I agree. Always a pleasure.
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Anything that helps clean up our oceans is fantastic! Thanks for sharing this positive news, John!
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Happy to do so. Thanks, Jan.
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This is a real boon, John! 🙌🏽
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Let’s hope it gets scaled up and functional soon.
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Best news I have heard all week, John! Plastic bags are the worse. TGIF to you.
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Yes, they are. I used to see all those little pieces of plastic on the Port Aransas beach. I hope someday they will go away.
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That’s amazing. Very much needed. Thanks, John, for the story.
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A pleasure, Esther.
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Whoa…now that’s quite innovative and a great way to tackle all the plastic in the environment. We can definitely use something that clever!
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I believe so, too, Monika.
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It’s amazing what we’ve already learned in such a brief period of time about microplastics and their effects on both the environment and its population. To think that scientists have been hard at work for even longer than that, looking for a way to lessen the impact or even remove its harmful effects, that’s inspiring.
Great job supplying, Sheriff.
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I hope they hurry up and get it into use.
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Let’s hope, Sheriff.
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😊
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That is such good news! Thanks for sharing it, John ❤️
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Wow! This is a huge development. Protecting our oceans is worth the investment.
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It sure is. Thanks, Pete.
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Wow that is a remarkable invention that could change a lot for the better. Good news indeed and interesting reading.
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I agree, Thomas. Thank you.
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An excellent start! Let’s hope more follow up with ideas to clean up the environment! Thanks for the good news, John.
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I agree. I hope they follow up and make it happen. Thanks, Jill.
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Well, this is certainly a needed discovery. Brilliant minds! Thank you for sharing.
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I agree, Michele. This could be a big step forward in plastics control. 😊
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Hope we see it soon. 😌 The plastic in packaging is getting out of control.
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I so agree.
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I’ve always believed that ‘mankind’, through our genius, can solve the most challenging problems facing our survival. This is s hood example. We’re heading in the right direction. Just hope that we don’t run out of time. And I strongly agree with your assessment of the importance of our oceans.
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I hope we don’t run out of time as well, Steve. Thanks.
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My daughter is learning chemistry in college, and she’s explained to me about the limitation of plastic to be easily recycled. So your news about a new kind of plastic is optimistic. Thanks for sharing this news 🌞
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She might like to know about the combination.
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What an incredible advancement to save the planet by RESEARCH and SCIENCE.
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Yes, it is incredible.
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It sounds like a fab invention.
It’s crazy how prevalent plastic has become since the 1970’s.
I’m in for any earth helping invention!
Still, as your excellent JohnKu starts out, “More needs to be done”
Thanks for the good news John!
🐂 🐂 🐖
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I hope they hurry and scale up production of this plastic. Always glad to share good news, Resa. 🐂 🐂 🐖 🐖
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I’m with you there!
Lol..I’m trying to make an Art Gown out of plastic trash right now. What a challenge!
AND the tiny bits of plastic somehow get between the blankets on my bed.
How insidious is that?
🐂 🐂 🐖 🐖 🐂 🐂
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Very insidious for sure. 🐂 🐂 🐖 🐖 🐂 🐂 🥦
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Is there plastic in that broccoli?
🥦🐂 🐂 🐖 🐖 🐂 🐂 🥦
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Don’t think so. 🥦🥦🥦🥦 🐂 🐂
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🏆🏆
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👍🏻
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There is good news, and then there is great news!
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Yes. I hope these guys scale this up to production.
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I hope so, too.
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This certainly sounds like very good news for the environment, John. Thanks for this share.
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I believe it is very good, Robbie. Can you imagine no plastic in the Ooceans
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Wonderful thought
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Yes, it is.
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🌞
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How amazing that would be to rid the world of the dangerous plastics. Yay for Japan! 🙂
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Yes it would be great to do that. Thanks, Debby.
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🙂
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😊
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This is such great news, John:) we really need this and so do our oceans.
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I agree, Denise. I just wish they would hurry.
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Thant is great news John… thanks for sharing hugs.
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😊
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Oh, these unreasonable humans! They had to create mounts of garbage instead of developing new kind of plastic! Great news! Thank you for your curious scientific notes, dear John!🍤🍤🍤🍻
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Let’s hope they can get production rolling.
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This is utterly fantastic! I hate hearing about the oceans filling with trash. It’s so tragic.
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Well this could be an answer.
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At least to keeping it from getting worse.
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😊
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[…] Friday JohnKu -AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News […]
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Thank you, Sally. I’m honored to be among these terrific bloggers.
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Plastic certainly is one of the big obstacles to overcoming pollution’s danger to the environment. I certainly hope a day comes when all plastic is recyclable.
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I do, too. This solution sounds promising.
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A world without plastic is hard to imagine and they can’t always be recycled. Let’s hope this idea catches on.
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I hope it catches on big time.
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Wow, John, that’s pretty amazing. I hope the research continues. Thanks for the good news. 🙂
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I hope so, too, Diana. 🤞🏻
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Let’s hope they start using it soon instead of plastic. Thanks, John! It’s good to hear good news for a change!
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I agree with the good news, Olga. I hope they scale this discovery quickly. Plastic in the oceans is at an epidemic level.
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Wow, what an amazing breakthrough for our world. I hope this becomes something that is actually used, not ignored because of cost.
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I hope so too, Carla
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