• Japanese scientists have created a plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours.
• The new material breaks down without leaving any residual trace.
• This innovation could significantly reduce ocean pollution caused by plastics.
• The research has garnered attention within the packaging sector.
• The plastic is designed to be as strong as conventional plastics yet eco-friendly.

Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo have developed a groundbreaking plastic that dissolves in seawater within just a few hours. This innovation presents a viable solution to the increasing plastic pollution problem that is harming marine life and ecosystems. The team demonstrated the plastic's effectiveness in a lab by stirring a small piece in salt water, leading to its rapid disappearance, as reported by thejakartapost, channelnewsasia, scmp, reuters, and dawn.

According to project lead Takuzo Aida, the new material is comparable in strength to traditional petroleum-based plastics but decomposes into its original components upon exposure to saltwater, which can then be processed by naturally occurring bacteria. This breakdown process effectively prevents the formation of microplastics, which pose a significant threat to aquatic life, as noted by dawn and reuters.

This innovative plastic could potentially alleviate the projected tripling of plastic pollution by 2040, which the UN Environment Programme estimates will add millions of metric tons of waste to our oceans annually. On World Environment Day, Takuzo Aida emphasized the responsibility of scientists, stating, “Children cannot choose the planet they will live on. It is our duty as scientists to ensure that we leave them with the best possible environment,” highlighting the urgency of addressing this global issue, according to channelnewsasia and thejakartapost.

Currently, researchers are investigating the best methods to coat the plastic for commercial applications. The plastic is reported to be non-toxic and non-flammable, ensuring that its use would not contribute to environmental degradation, as highlighted in multiple sources including scmp and dawn.