Scientists create programmable plastic with ability to self-destruct on command: 'Built-in end-of-life'

Surprising scientific advancements aren't uncommon, but a recent article by Interesting Engineering heralded a sincerely shocking development: researchers appear to have discovered a beneficial form of planned obsolescence.

To understand this breakthrough, however, it is important to know the history and significance of plastic products. 

After World War II, scientists developed groundbreaking consumer plastics suitable for many goods, revolutionizing the supply chain. Plastic was less costly than glass, metal, wood, or textiles, and it quickly began to replace those materials worldwide.

Plastic is exceptionally durable, too. By the time the 1970s rolled around, the relative permanence of plastic became apparent, as it clogged waterways and landfills.

Plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, breaking down into particles over time. In 2004, a British marine biologist coined the word "microplastics," naming what would become an unmitigated environmental and public health concern.

Researchers at Rutgers University approached this plastic problem with an eye on durability. Their study, published in the journal Nature Chemistry on Nov. 28, concerned what Interesting Engineering described as "plastics that can be programmed to self-destruct."

"Controlling the rate at which polymers break down is essential for developing sustainable materials," the authors' abstract began, introducing their research into "self-destructing plastics." 

Natural polymers — plastic-like substances that occur in nature — break down, and the team sought a way to force synthetic polymers to behave similarly, facilitating a "built-in end-of-life." To that end, they focused on the bonds that make plastic durable and tried to weaken them.

Noting that the science behind the study was complicated, Interesting Engineering likened the authors' approach to "creasing" a sheet of paper to make a clean tear. 

Much as an intentional fold primes paper for predictable tearing, the researchers tinkered to create manipulable weak points in polymeric bonds. They placed "small chemical groups" adjacent to the "fold," allowing it to break when "water or other triggers" were introduced.

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The researchers theorized that, if feasible, the process would allow manufacturers to adjust a plastic's lifespan based on its purpose, enabling short-use items to break down in days and other objects to remain in service for years.

Interesting Engineering observed that because the process didn't "require weird chemicals or fragile materials," the findings could be game-changing for some of the most ubiquitous, unavoidable plastics in modern life — like food packaging and takeout containers.

Nearly half of consumer plastic — almost 500 tons each year — winds up in our overflowing landfills, which exacerbates the emissions generated by all that waste. 

The other half contributes to the massive problem of microplastics, which have been linked to life-threatening health outcomes, including heart attacks and cancers. Although synthetic polymers can break down into microplastics, a shorter life cycle could reduce shedding rates.

As the outlet noted, extensive additional testing is necessary before self-destructing plastics are consumer-ready, but there are effective ways to limit plastic exposure in the meantime.

Replacing everyday items with plastic-free alternatives can greatly reduce microplastic inhalation and ingestion, as can simply using less plastic and avoiding single-use plastics.

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