The world produces over 400 million tons of plastic each year, much of it ending up in landfills or the ocean. But nature may have an unexpected ally: plastic-eating microbes.
In 2024, scientists have discovered bacteria and fungi that can break down polyethylene, PET, and even more durable plastics in record time. Some biotech startups are now engineering enzymes to accelerate this process at industrial scale.
While not a silver bullet, microbial digestion could revolutionize waste management—turning trash into biodegradable byproducts, and helping us detoxify the planet one molecule at a time.
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