Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new material inspired by seashells that aims to improve plastic recycling processes. The team reports that their design reduces the variability in mechanical properties often found in recycled plastics, while maintaining the performance of original materials.
According to the researchers, this bio-inspired approach could lower manufacturing costs for new packaging materials by almost 50%. They estimate potential savings in the hundreds of millions of dollars. With less than 10% of the 350 million tons of plastic produced annually being effectively recycled, they suggest their method could help divert more plastic waste from landfills.
The study was led by Christos Athanasiou, an assistant professor in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. The findings have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“Read the Q&A of the findings, and see a video of the testing, on the College of Engineering website.”
