Plastic, it’s very handy. It’s lightweight, corrosion-resistant, durable, and yet, it’s also hazardous to the environment.
This led to the workshop “Closing the Loop on the Plastics Dilemma”—hosted by the Chemical Sciences Roundtable in Washington, DC—which asked chemists, chemical engineers, and participants in related fields to reimagine how plastics are created, used, and managed.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicines shares what took place at the May 2019 workshop, including presentations and discussions, available now in the Proceedings in Brief.
They’re not alone in their search for new alternatives for plastic. In 2018, engineers at Georgia Tech looked at crab shells and trees as a means to replace the flexible plastic packaging used to keep food fresh. Scientists and engineers are also looking at other means to protect the environment, leading them to focus on renewable energy alternatives. That’s because, in 2018, scientists estimated there are only 12 years left to limit climate change.
Adam Heller, a geoengineer, spoke on the topic at the 228th ECS Meeting. Learn more about Heller and upcoming ECS meetings here.
