Scientists create "living plastic" that can self-destruct on command

Chinese researchers developed a prototype “living plastic” that embeds dormant Bacillus subtilis spores and can be triggered to self-degrade without leaving microplastics.

The spores activate under a trigger and produce enzymes that break the polymer down from within; the team also showed a wearable electrode and film degrading in lab tests.

The current system works best with polycaprolactone and in warm nutrient broth, so it is still limited to an easy-to-break-down material.

If adapted to more common plastics, the approach could offer on-demand degradation for packaging and electronics and help cut persistent waste.