New Plastic Bags Biodegrade in Four Months

The Missouri S&T research team is constructing new breeds of biodegradable and bioavailable plastics in an effort to reduce the tons of plastic waste that ends up in the nation?s landfills each year. Bioavailable plastics contain substances that can be absorbed by living systems during their normal physiological functions. By combining and modifying a variety of bio-based, oil-based and natural polymers, the team seeks to create optimal blends that can be used to make agricultural films, bottles, biomedical and drug delivery devices, and more.