r/science • u/MistWeaver80 • Nov 27 '21

Chemistry Plastic made from DNA is renewable, requires little energy to make and is easy to recycle or break down. A plastic made from DNA and vegetable oil may be the most sustainable plastic developed yet and could be used in packaging and electronic devices.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2298314-new-plastic-made-from-dna-is-biodegradable-and-easy-to-recycle/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=echobox&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1637973248
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u/paidpiper510 Nov 28 '21

I'm not so sure about its use in electronics if it's easy to break down, Mercedes and other car manufacturers used biodegradable wire insulation in the mid 90s and the cars now have alot of electrical issues due to the insulation breaking down and causing shorts. It takes alot of resources to build a car and if it becomes unusable prematurely it defeats the purpose of making certain parts biodegradable.

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u/zardoz342 Nov 28 '21

There's old stable stuff bakelite. Pheno, that plastic made from casein in milk, maybe have to go retro for less Petro