cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/31895167
A new biodegradable bamboo plastic could replace conventional plastics, offering a fully biodegradable alternative that is durable, recyclable, and easy to manufacture at scale.
Chinese researchers have developed a biodegradable bamboo plastic that not only rivals but surpasses traditional petroleum-based plastics in strength and thermal stability while decomposing naturally within 50 days. The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications in October 2025, could revolutionize manufacturing by offering a renewable, recyclable, and high-performance alternative for industries such as automotive and infrastructure.
Don’t worry, in my experience biodegradable usually means under very specific circumstances which are not easily met. Even if, like in this case, it is presented as “just bury it for 50 days and it’s gone”. It’s still a great discovery if the other claims are true though.
Well yeah. If it was readily biodegradable under normal conditions then it would biodegrade on the shelf or while in use. We already have materials like that: fruit peels.
Sure, but I was referring to stuff like biodegradable tea bags or those nespresso cups that are only degrable under high temperature and long residence times, so they’ll stay plastic forever in the composter.
I’d prefer the scientific terms they mean, instead of all these laymen contradictions. I’m just pointing them out, to state the blatant.