Arctic microbes offer solution to plastic pollution.
Scientists have discovered microbes from the Alps and the Arctic that can break down plastic without requiring high temperatures, according to a study by the Swiss Federal Institute WSL. Although the microbes failed to break down non-biodegradable polyethylene, they digested biodegradable polyester-polyurethane and commercially available biodegradable mixtures of polybutylene adipate terephthalate and polylactic acid. The researchers warn that identifying the plastic-degrading enzymes produced by the microbial strains and optimising the process to obtain large amounts of proteins will be the next big challenge.