Plant-Based Plastic Dissolves in Saltwater Without Microplastics

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Researchers have developed a cellulose-based plastic designed to keep useful plastic qualities while avoiding one of plastics biggest environmental problems: persistent microplastics. The material uses carboxymethyl cellulose, a biodegradable wood-pulp derivative, together with a positively charged polymer that forms a strong network in water. The researchers then added choline chloride, an FDA-approved food additive, to make the material less brittle and adjust its flexibility. The resulting plastic can range from hard and glass-like to highly elastic, with reported stretching of up to 130 percent. It can also be made into very thin films and flexible bags. In artificial seawater, the bonds holding the material together come apart and the plastic can completely dissociate within hours, without producing microplastics. The research also demonstrated closed-loop recycling using electrolytes. A protective surface coating can be used when the material needs to resist accidental exposure to saltwater. The work was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society in 2025. It is an important laboratory demonstration, but practical large-scale manufacturing, cost, durability across different products, and performance in everyday environments still need further testing before the material can be considered a broad replacement for conventional plastics.