Researchers at King’s College London have introduced a novel chemical recycling method aimed at single-use bioplastics, such as those found in disposable coffee cups and food containers. These “green” plastics are often discarded to landfill because existing recycling systems struggle to handle them efficiently, despite broad hopes for a more sustainable future.
The breakthrough, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, leverages enzymes commonly found in laundry detergents to depolymerize bioplastics destined for waste streams. In a matter of hours, the process breaks plastics down into their constituent parts, enabling a complete degradation of polylactic acid (PLA). The new technique achieves this in as little as 24 hours, and at a temperature of 90°C, making it 84 times faster than the traditional 12-week industrial composting cycle used today for similar materials.
Therefore this discovery offers a widespread recycling solution for single-use PLA plastics. A team of chemists from King’s College found that bioplastics can be broken down into their chemical components within 24 hours when heated to 90°C. Once the polymers are converted into monomers, those molecules can be reassembled into the same high-quality plastic for reuse, sustaining a circular economy that minimizes waste.
The ‘green’ plastic problem
Global plastic production currently outpaces disposal capacity. Data from Environmental Action indicate that more than 68 million tons of plastic could be abandoned to nature in 2023 alone, whether on land or at sea, due to inadequate recycling infrastructure.
A recent OECD report projects that global plastic waste could nearly triple by 2060, with roughly half ending up in landfills and the rest in natural environments. Recycling rates are forecast to remain low, with only a minority recovered for reuse.
Although bioplastics—derived from biological sources such as corn starch, cassava, or sugar cane—are often viewed as more sustainable, production methods remain costly and compete with agricultural land use, complicating large‑scale adoption.
A mechanical recycling approach, while useful in some contexts, tends to produce carbon emissions and typically yields lower-quality recyclates. As a result, many retailers still rely on fossil-based materials for disposable products.
A real alternative
The rate at which bioplastics break down through the new method could revolutionize plastic production, offering a scalable and sustainable framework for recycling single-use bioplastics. The researchers describe the development as a significant advance for recyclability, opening pathways toward a circular economy that reduces reliance on fossil-based plastics and helps address the vast volumes of waste disposed of in landfills and natural ecosystems.
Alex Brogan, Professor of Chemistry at King’s College London, explained that the project grew from observing difficulties in degrading bioplastics used in medical and surgical settings. The team adapted the approach to common household bioplastics, applying a widely available enzyme used in laundry detergents to accelerate breakdown. In practical terms, this means everyday bioplastics could be processed into reusable monomers and then reconstituted into virgin-grade plastic materials, closing the loop in a more efficient way.
Scientists are now expanding the research to improve recycling for other widely used plastics, including items found in disposable bottles, flexible films, sheets, and clothing. Encouraging early results suggest similar enzyme-based strategies could be extended to many mass-produced polymers that currently escape effective recycling.
Susana Meza Huamán, a member of the team, notes that the work marks a first step toward new waste-management technologies that elevate bioplastic recycling to the level of traditional plastics with the same quality for reuse. While bioplastics originate from renewable resources, not all variants are compostable, and many existing recycling routes remain inefficient. The chemical approach demonstrated here substantially speeds up degradation, enabling recycling and reuse at scale.
As the study progresses, the team anticipates broader adoption and refinement of the process. The reference work is documented with a DOI indicating detailed experimental results and methods for future replication and validation by the broader scientific community.
This research stands as a reminder that practical, science-led advances can help decouple plastic usage from environmental harm, moving toward a more sustainable material lifecycle without sacrificing convenience or performance.
Endnotes emphasize the potential of enzyme-assisted recycling as part of a diversified strategy to manage plastic waste, highlighting the importance of continued investment in green chemistry, policy alignment, and industrial collaboration to translate laboratory breakthroughs into real-world impact. The study reflects a growing consensus that accelerated, scalable recycling technologies are essential to achieving meaningful reductions in environmental plastic pollution.