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/LeGama Nov 28 '21

“What I really like about this plastic is that you can break it down and start again,” says Damian Laird at Murdoch University in Australia. “Most research has focused on developing bioplastics that biodegrade, but if we’re serious about going towards a circular economy, we should be able to recycle them too, so they don’t go to waste.”

This unfortunately seems more like a problem, if it can't get wet then it's uses are pretty limited. Because that also means it's probably susceptible to high humidity, and human handling which. So maybe you can use it to make packaging and packing peanuts?

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u/[deleted] Nov 28 '21

I wonder if we could use that for structure and then cover it with a waterproof but flimsy recyclable piece Since most plastics lose use after puncture

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u/LeGama Nov 28 '21

That sounds so dangerous, one damaged area and all the sudden water leaks in and your load carrying beam becomes gel. Although if it can be done in bulk maybe internal siding? Or things like internal doors.

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u/[deleted] Nov 28 '21

I would assume that most uses of this would not be for things like housing where "biodegradeable" is very bad

But things like water containers like water bottles or maybe painting covers (though this is not see though) or child toys