Scientists create "living #plastic" that can self-destruct on command

Dormant bacteria embedded in the material wake up to digest it from the inside

The researchers said the process did not create #microplastic particles, which could make this more appealing than conventional biodegradable plastics, which often fragment before they fully break down

By Rob Thubron May 6, 2026

"Plastic that can breaks itself down when no longer needed sounds like something from sci-fi, but Chinese scientists have moved the idea closer to reality. Their prototype embeds dormant bacteria inside a polymer, creating a material that can activate on command and degrade without leaving behind microplastic fragments.

"Scientists at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology have developed a '#LivingPlastic' with a built-in kill switch. The material contains spores from engineered Bacillus subtilis, a common #SoilBacterium, that remain inactive during normal use.

"When exposed to the trigger [a warm nutrient broth] , the spores wake up and produce enzymes that digest the plastic from within."

Read more:
https://www.techspot.com/news/112317-scientists-create-living-plastic-can-self-destruct-command.html

#SolarPunkSunday #Technology #TechnologyBreakthrough