New Plastic That Biodegrades in a Month Can Be Made Using Utah’s Prickly Pear Cactus
The prickly pear cactus is found all over in Utah deserts and could be the answer to the world's plastic problem. A new product created by a researcher in Mexico is a plastic from this cactus that is natural and can biodegrade in a month.
From Cactus to Polymer: A Sustainable Innovation
Plastic is made with a polymer made in part from crude oil and natural gas. The prickly pear cactus has a juice that can be harvested without harming the plant and combined with other natural substances can be turned into a polymer.
The resulting plastic is not toxic for animals or humans who consume it. It also breaks down quickly in water and so wouldn't stay long in rivers or the ocean. In dirt it begins to break down and is dissolved in a month.
Experimental Stage: The Future of Cactus-Based Plastics
It is still in the experimental stage in the lab, but several companies are interested in creating commercial products from the new plastic. It is thought companies who need packaging will jump at the chance to use a more environmentally friendly version.
I'm not sure it could be used for products that come in contact with water. If you had a bag of ice that melted slightly, you wouldn't want the bag holding it to disappear or develop holes.
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It seems perfect for fast food or grocery bags. If you made it tasty enough, people could eat the packaging with the food. Just kidding that would be gross. Maybe some day soon there will be prickly pear cactus farms in Utah producing this cactus juice for plastic.
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