Can we brew a sustainable plastic?
These WashU engineers are making it happen.
Plastic is choking our planet. It builds up in the environment, killing marine life, damaging soil, poisoning groundwater and causing serious health issues. And it can take up to 1,000 years to break down.
The implications are enough to drive you to drink. But next time you’re downing a cold one, ponder this: What if the science behind brewing beer could solve our plastic problem?
Marcus Foston and Fuzhong Zhang in WashU’s McKelvey School of Engineering are experimenting with a process similar to brewing to generate biodegradable materials with the goal of replacing traditional petroleum-derived plastics.
Brewing is one of the oldest forms of biomanufacturing. Foston says brewing science aligns with his team’s research because both use biology to manufacture materials. “We’re using the same basic bioprocess,” he says.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for major impact in the region and world. We are thrilled to bring together the resources and strengths at WashU to try to solve this global challenge.
Marcus Foston
Because this endeavor will require a team effort, specialists from across WashU have joined forces to establish the Synthetic Biology Manufacturing of Advanced Materials Research Center. This team includes experts in synthetic biology, machine learning, chemical engineering, political science, renewable fashion, textile design, sustainable construction, entrepreneurship, sociology and patents — all found at WashU.
Creating sustainable breakthroughs.
