Scientists create ‘living plastic’ that can self-destruct itself on command

Researchers embedded dormant Bacillus subtilis spores in polycaprolactone to create a “living plastic” that can be triggered to self-destruct.

The engineered spores produce two cooperative enzymes, enabling the material to fully break down in six days without leaving microplastics.

The team also built a degradable wearable electrode prototype, showing potential for short-lived plastic devices that can be disposed of on demand.

If scalable, the approach could reduce persistent plastic waste and help curb microplastic pollution.