How RIKEN & University of Tokyo's Dissolvable Plastic Works

There’s something of an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality when it comes to plastic pollution. It goes in the recycling bin, and we assume that’s that.

Shockingly, though, only around 9% of plastic around the world is actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfill, incinerators or nature.

The final destination for lots of plastic is the ocean. Right now, the equivalent of a dump truck full of plastic pollutes our oceans every single minute. The way things are going, scientists estimate that there will be more pieces of plastic in the ocean than there are fish by the year 2050.

And if that’s too far in the future to fully comprehend there’s a more immediate manifestation of plastic’s impact on our seas. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located at a point in the Pacific where currents converge, bringing plastics together to form a mass three times larger than France.

It looks as though plastic production isn’t slowing down any time soon - in fact it's expected to triple by 2050. So, we need solutions to halt this problem, otherwise marine biodiversity is at risk of permanent damage.

Companies, inventors and researchers around the world are rallying to address this issue - projects like Ocean Cleanup or Seabin aim to remove plastic once it’s already in the ocean. However, a new invention has been unveiled to tackle the problem of the plastic itself: its non-biodegradability.

A team of Japanese researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against plastic pollution by developing a new type of plastic that dissolves completely in seawater. This innovative material, created by scientists at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo, promises to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.

An era-defining invention

The newly developed plastic is based on supramolecular chemistry, utilising ionic monomers linked by reversible salt bonds. This unique structure allows the plastic to maintain its strength during use while enabling rapid degradation when exposed to saline environments. 

According to Lead Researcher Takuzo Aida: “With this new material, we have created a new family of plastics that are strong, stable, recyclable, can serve multiple functions, and importantly, do not generate microplastics.” 

Tests have shown that the plastic begins to break down within hours in seawater and decomposes completely in soil within ten days, releasing nutrients similar to fertiliser that can benefit plant life. The manufacturing process is equally innovative; it involves mixing components in water to create a viscous layer containing structural elements and a watery layer rich in salt ions. 

This critical “desalting” step ensures that the material retains its strength and usability. Remarkably, 91% of the primary component used can be recovered after dissolution, making it highly recyclable.

These plastics aren’t just for niche uses either. The material can be moulded into various forms like traditional thermoplastics, exhibiting strength and versatility comparable to conventional plastics.

Addressing the microplastic problem

When plastic eventually degrades, it breaks down into smaller fragments known as microplastics. Recent studies have indicated that microplastics are now ubiquitous in our oceans and even infiltrate our food supply, raising the alarm bell about their potential health impacts on humans.

The urgency for sustainable alternatives has never been more pronounced. Current biodegradable plastics often fail to degrade effectively in marine environments or leave behind harmful residues. The Japanese researchers' new material offers a promising solution by ensuring complete dissolution without contributing to microplastic pollution.

The Global Plastics Treaty

This new discovery comes at an absolutely crucial moment, coinciding with the impending negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty in November 2024. 

This treaty represents a significant international effort to address the escalating crisis of plastic pollution, which affects ecosystems, wildlife, and human health worldwide. It aims to establish legally binding commitments for countries to reduce plastic production and waste, promote sustainable alternatives, and enhance recycling efforts.

Anne Beathe Tvinnereim is Norway’s Minister for International Development and Co-Chair of a coalition of 60 countries which is advocating for radical treaty terms.

“We are not going to land a perfect treaty. But we need to get further. And I think we will. I choose to be hopeful,” she said at the negotiations in South Korea. “With high-ambition coalition countries, we will continue to demonstrate that there is a big group of countries that sticks to its ambitions. The world desperately needs some leadership now, and some good news.”

Business leaders from across industries are also in support of the regulations, even those that produce huge amounts of plastic.  Unilever (which is the world’s third largest plastic polluter) is one such company.

CEO Hein Schumacher says: “Business needs global rules.”

Will it be rolled out globally?

Experts are optimistic about the potential for this technology to be implemented globally.

Joaquín Martínez Urreaga from the Polytechnic University of Madrid described the development as “a promising alternative to tackle marine pollution.” 

The hope is that this new type of plastic could be adopted across various industries, particularly those reliant on single-use packaging.

Nevertheless, transitioning from traditional plastics to this new biodegradable option will require collaboration between researchers, manufacturers and policymakers. The challenge lies not only in producing this material at scale but also in creating an infrastructure that supports its use and recycling.

We may be entering a bold new world if the Global Plastics Treaty is agreed. Will this new plastic be a part of it?

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