Science Popularization Knowledge - Decoding Polylactic Acid: Biodegradable Green Plastic

Plastic has transformed modern life, but its "convenience" has also brought a heavy environmental cost. Disposable packaging bags, lunch boxes and beverage bottles may remain in the natural environment for hundreds of years, causing serious white pollution. Faced with this problem, scientists have found a green alternative - polylactic acid (PLA), which, like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), is also a biodegradable green plastic.

A Portuguese team has developed a fully biobased and biodegradable material, targeting its application in cosmetic packaging.

Recently, a research team from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria and other research institutions successfully developed a brand-new fully biobased and biodegradable material composite using PHBV, polylactic acid, chitosan, essential oils, bio-plasticizers and phycocyanin, specifically designed for cosmetic packaging applications. The related research results were published in Scientific Reports, a journal under the Nature group. This research is part of the NABIA and Embalagem do Futuro (Future Packaging) projects sponsored by the European Union and the Portuguese government.

Magic straw turns into polylactic acid: The new eco-friendly star is coming. Do you know about it?

Straw polylactic acid, though seemingly unfamiliar, actually holds immense technological and environmental value. It is a new type of biodegradable material made from agricultural and forestry waste such as straw through a series of complex and ingenious biotechnological conversions. This process not only ingeniously realizes the high-value utilization of straw resources but also opens up a new path for environmental protection.

China is actively promoting global efforts to address plastic pollution.

The picture is provided by the China Plastics Association.

【Science and Technology】A research team from Huazhong Agricultural University has pioneered a technology to solve the problem of "white pollution" in agriculture.

In August, Qichun County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, entered the harvest season for ratoon rice. The golden waves of rice swayed with the wind, presenting a scene of abundant harvest.

Shanghai Plastics Association: How Biodegradable Plastics Can Play a Role in Creating a Shanghai Model for a Beautiful China

The "Decision of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on Deeply Promoting Ecological Civilization Construction and Creating a Shanghai Model of a Beautiful China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision") will come into effect on September 1, 2025, fully demonstrating Shanghai's determination to advance ecological civilization construction.

15 minutes to get it done! Lignin turns waste into treasure, and the strength of the glue even exceeds commercial products.

On August 12th, a groundbreaking study was published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. The research team demonstrated for the first time that under normal pressure, microwave-driven catalysis can convert lignin into a phenolic mixture and successfully apply it to soy protein adhesives. The research was jointly completed by researchers from West Virginia University and North Carolina State University, opening up a new path for the high-value utilization of lignin.

How do biodegradable plastic bags degrade? A comprehensive analysis of the degradation process!

Why can biodegradable plastic bags "disappear" in nature while they are all plastic bags? Is the degradation process of biodegradable plastic bags a silent "environmental magic" or a reaction that requires specific conditions? For factory purchasers and catering practitioners, clarifying these questions is not only related to the product usage effect but also to the fulfillment of environmental protection commitments.