Human Practices

Background

Marine plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide. According to a report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in August 2025, global plastic production reached 436 million tons in 2023. Of all the plastic ever produced, approximately 75% has ended up as waste, much of which has entered the ocean and ecosystems. This has generated environmental and social costs exceeding USD 1.5 trillion and has negatively impacted at least 1,400 wildlife species.

Alarmingly, this pollution continues to expand. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that between 75 million and 199 million tons of plastic waste have already accumulated in the ocean. Without changes in current production, consumption, and disposal practices, between 23 and 37 million tons of plastic are projected to enter the ocean annually by 2040. Therefore, the urgency of addressing marine plastic pollution is self-evident.

Escalation of Plastic Waste Relative to Production (2018-2025)

Marine Plastic Pollution

Seabird Trapped in Plastic-net

Related data indicate that in multiple sampling regions, synthetic fibers derived from polyester plastics account for more than 50% of marine plastic pollution, representing one of the primary sources of marine microplastics. This highlights the critical importance of developing efficient degradation strategies for polyester plastic waste.

Easter-base Plastics Dominance

Bottles Made of Polyesters

At present, mainstream strategies for treating polyester plastic waste fall into three categories: physical, chemical, and biological methods. However, each has significant limitations. Physical recycling processes, such as extrusion and remelting, reduce the molecular weight of polyester polymers, thereby weakening their mechanical properties. For instance, in the absence of chain extenders, a single recycling cycle reduces the tensile strength of bottle-grade PET by 6.5%. Chemical recycling typically requires harsh operating conditions, including high temperatures (200–300 °C) and high pressures (1–4 MPa or above), alongside catalysts, solvents, or reagents that may be toxic and costly. These factors reduce its environmental and economic viability. Moreover, neither physical nor chemical recycling is effective for treating microplastics.

In contrast, biological treatment is emerged as a promising alternative solution who has gained widespread attention. Compared with physical and chemical methods, biological processes generally operate under ambient pressure and moderate temperatures, consuming less energy while offering strong substrate specificity, fewer by-products, minimal labor requirements, and high biosafety. As such, biological treatment represents a genuinely green, efficient, and sustainable strategy.

Nevertheless, existing biological methods for degrading polyester plastics largely remain at the laboratory stage. They are often cost-prohibitive, infeasible for large-scale application, lacking standardized protocols. Furthermore, their degradation efficiency is poor for highly crystalline and mixed-color polyester materials, which limits their effectiveness[9].

Workers Sorting the Plastic Waste

Factory Polluting the Water System Around

Plastic Deposing in Soil with enzyme

Our project is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a focus on the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Goal 14: Life Below Water

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  Our project directly contributes to the protection of marine ecosystems by developing enzyme-based solutions that accelerate the degradation of polyester plastics and microplastics in marine environments. By integrating biodegradable enzyme additives into plastic production, we reduce the inflow of persistent pollutants into the ocean, addressing the root cause of marine plastic pollution.



SDGs.14

• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

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  Our enzyme technology provides a scalable, low-cost, and energy-efficient alternative for the plastic industry. By connecting synthetic biology innovation with industrial processes, we support the green transformation of manufacturing and build a foundation for sustainable biotechnological infrastructure.



SDGs.9

• Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

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  We promote sustainable consumption and production by embedding biodegradation capability into plastic products themselves. Our work establishes a closed-loop system linking production, use, and processing, ensuring that polyester plastic products can safely re-enter the environment without secondary pollution.



SDGs.12

We seek to undertake a rigorous, evidence-driven investigation into the current state of marine polyester pollution. Building on this foundation, we will systematically examine the diverse needs of stakeholders, pinpoint the key shortcomings and technological gaps in existing treatment strategies, and leverage the principles and tools of synthetic biology to enable transformative progress in polyester degradation. Ultimately, our goal is to establish a high-impact project that not only achieves technological breakthroughs but also gains market acceptance and delivers significant societal value.

Investigation on Marine Polyester Plastic Pollution and Current Processing Practices

To better understand the severity of marine polyester plastic pollution, comprehend the practical outcomes and technical limitations of mainstream physical and chemical recycling methods, and define the direction of our project, we conducted on-site visits and online interviews with marine ecologists and industry experts.

Interview with Liu

Picture of Liu

Interview with Xuefei Shan

(Senior Manager of Sustainability Operations, BASF Greater China)

This conversation focused on the corporate perspective regarding plastic pollution and the shortcomings of current treatment strategies.

1. 1.Lifecycle management is crucial. Due to their convenience and low cost, plastics---including polyester plastics---are ubiquitous across consumer goods, construction materials, textiles, and household products. This widespread use complicates waste management. If the lifecycle of polyester plastic products were fully traceable and controllable, both product performance and post-use recycling could be better managed, thereby reducing the rate at which plastics enter uncontrolled waste streams.
2. 2.The issue of marine microplastics requires heightened attention. Many existing plastic pollution management strategies are primarily designed for larger, macroscopic plastic items. In recent years, however, the problem of microplastics has become increasingly severe. Although a universally accepted definition is still lacking, microplastics have been detected ubiquitously across various aspects of human life, and some studies have confirmed that they pose significant risks to human health. For these nanoscale plastic fragments, no mature industrial technologies currently exist for their effective treatment or degradation, representing a substantial technological gap.
3. 3.Circular solutions are essential. Most existing plastic waste management strategies share a common limitation: they operate as isolated processes. Approaches such as landfilling, incineration, or simple shredding and compaction fail to establish internal circularity. As a result, they not only suffer from low efficiency but can also generate secondary pollution and resource consumption. In contrast, a closed-loop system---such as 'product sale -- post-use collection -- remanufacturing -- resale'---could effectively control pollution from a commercial perspective. However, in practice, such systems are extremely difficult to implement, requiring not only stringent corporate management but also extensive cross-sector collaboration.

Through discussions with Manager Shan, we realized that an efficient plastic recycling solution relies not only on technological advancement but also on the feasibility of implementation and its integration with plastic products. This insight has been highly instructive for the design of our project's products. Moreover, Professor Shan's emphasis on addressing microplastic pollution is highly forward-looking, and we aim to test and optimize the degradation of polyester microplastics during the experimental phase.

Interview with Manager Shan online

Picture of Shan

Our Members with Manager Shan

Interview with Manager Liu online

Picture of Manager Liu

Conclusion

Through interviews with experts and entrepreneurs, we confirmed the urgency of marine polyester pollution and its severe negative impacts on marine ecosystems, coastal economies, and human society. Addressing this issue has drawn significant attention from diverse stakeholders---including coastal residents, companies across the plastic value chain, as well as governments and public-interest organizations---who have already taken substantial actions to support remediation efforts. Together, these perspectives strongly demonstrate both the necessity and the societal value of advancing our project.

At the same time, we learned that tackling plastic pollution requires interventions close to the product source and the development of circular treatment strategies. Moreover, while enzymatic degradation is widely recognized as a highly promising solution, current technologies remain immature, with unresolved challenges such as high costs and limited scalability.

Feasibility Study of Polyester Degrading Enzymes

Inspired by Professor Yonglong Liu, we focused our attention on polyester degrading enzymes. Developing a low-cost, efficient, stable, and recyclable enzymatic for degradation solution could fundamentally transform the management of marine polyester plastic pollution. We urgently need to evaluate the feasibility of these enzymes from both technical and commercial perspectives. To this end, we consulted experts in the field.

Project Initiation and Design

Yifei Zhang

（Professor of Advanced Innovation Engineering in Soft Matter and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology）

1. 1.Selecting target enzymes from marine native enzymes to enhance performance in marine environments.
2. 2.Significantly improving enzyme thermal tolerance through structural modification.
3. 3.Employing immobilization techniques to enhance enzyme performance in large-scale production processes.
4. 4.Our goal is to achieve standardized industrial production of polyester plastic degrading enzymes.

Interview with Professor Zhang

Picture of Professor Zhang

Picture with Professor Zhang

Picture with Professor Zhang

Improvement of Experiment

Dry Lab Improvemnt

We further expressed the selected enzymes in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and conducted a series of experimental analyses on the purified proteins. Although both enzymes exhibited some polyester-degrading activity, their initial expression levels were insufficient for practical applications, and our experiments encountered significant challenges. To address this, we sought guidance from experts in the field to refine our computational experimental design and strategy.

Guided by Professor Jiang's recommendations, we applied the ProteinMPNN platform for further sequence optimization and used multiple mathematical modeling tools for simulation and analysis. Ultimately, three promising engineered enzymes were selected for further experimental validation.

Interview with Doctor Jiang

Picture of Doctor Jiang

Picture with Doctor Jiang

Picture with Doctor Jiang

Following a new round of measurements, we observed a significant increase in the expression levels of the screened enzymes. We selected the enzyme with the highest expression for further thermal tolerance testing, but found that its Tm value was not ideal. To ensure that the technology meets industrial requirements during implementation, we aim to further enhance the thermal stability of the degradation enzyme. Accordingly, we have reached out to experts in the field to obtain effective advice and guidance.

Following Professor Ulrich's recommendations, we performed extensive mutation site simulations using three modeling platforms and focused on the consensus predictions for experimental validation. This strategy ultimately led to a 41% improvement in thermal tolerance.

Interview with Professor Ulrich

Picture of Professor Ulrich

Wet Lab Improvement

After obtaining polyester plastic degrading enzymes with high expression levels and enhanced thermal tolerance, we turned our attention to the selection of carrier materials for enzyme formulations, as well as to industrialization requirements and key technical uncertainties. In addition, our understanding of influencing elements of enzyme expression efficiency in factory settings remain poorly. To address these challenges, we consulted experts in the field.

Following Professor Sun's guidance, we conducted a detailed screening of polyester plastic components. Ultimately, we selected an inorganic nanomaterial composite of calcium carbonate and silica as the carrier. Subsequent experiments confirmed that this material effectively supports the expression of degrading enzymes. Building on this, we aim to further investigate industrial factors limiting enzyme expression and optimize our formulation accordingly, thereby enhancing the industrialization potential of our enzyme product during the experimental phase.

Interview with Professor Chen online

Picture of Professor Wu

Professor Chen's advice highlights the practical significance of rational enzyme modification for industrial enzyme formulations. Developing appropriate modification strategies for degrading enzymes will be a key focus for future improvements in our experimental design.

Interview with Professor Chen online

Picture of Professor Chen

Based on these recommendations, we employed rational mutation predictions to systematically enhance enzyme expression and activity. Through rational design and single-point mutation testing, we successfully improved both catalytic efficiency and thermal stability, ultimately developing a marine-derived hydrolase with broad substrate specificity, high catalytic activity, and elevated thermal tolerance. Additionally, we identified an inorganic nanocomposite of calcium carbonate and silica as the carrier for the enzyme formulation. This carrier, derived from polyester plastic synthetic materials, not only substantially reduces the production cost of the enzyme formulation but also has great potential to preserve the functional performance of polyester plastics.

Research on Application of Results

With the guidance of different profrssors, we refined our experimental approach and successfully achieved the immobilization and expression of polyester-degrading enzymes, yielding preliminary results. This progress has allowed us to focus part of our efforts on the practical application of these findings. We aim for enzyme formulations that not only demonstrate high degradation efficiency but also meet market demands, thereby laying a solid foundation for the eventual commercialization of our technology. To achieve this, it is crucial to understand existing enzyme formulation applications, their performance and limitations in real-world environments, and the market demand for plastic-degrading products.

After clarifying our research direction, we extensively reviewed recent scientific literature. The latest data indicate that immobilized enzyme systems can produce approximately 2.5 times more product than equivalent free-enzyme systems. Furthermore, immobilized catalysts maintain significantly higher activity and thermal stability over multiple cycles (≥5). This suggests that formulating degradation enzymes as immobilized enzyme products is likely to achieve more efficient and long-term degradation compared with direct application to polyester products, which holds substantial economic significance for industrial use. Additionally, numerous studies demonstrate that immobilized systems outperform free enzymes in mixed-waste settings, showing higher product release per unit time and recyclability, and provide more stable product release across multiple substrates, including films, fibers, and granules. This indicates that immobilized enzyme formulations have far broader industrial applicability than free enzymes and the potential for large-scale treatment of diverse polyester waste. Notably, literature also confirms that immobilization can effectively mitigate enzyme deactivation and loss under industrial conditions, further strengthening our confidence in designing enzyme formulation products.

However, existing studies also point out challenges in industrial applications of polyester-degrading enzymes and their products. For instance, degradation rates under standardized industrial conditions are significantly lower than reported under ideal laboratory conditions; waste polyester often requires pre-treatment (e.g., decrystallization, grinding) to achieve high degradation efficiency; and substrate classification and recycling systems remain incomplete. To gain deeper insight into these issues, as well as the laboratory production standards and technical details of enzyme formulations, we interviewed Professor Jun Ge from Tsinghua University.

Professor Ge, an expert in biomanufacturing, bioassays, enzyme catalyst engineering, and bio-chemical composite catalysis, has extensive experience in the practical application of immobilized enzymes. During our discussion, we focused on the design of immobilized polyester-degrading enzymes and their industrial performance, and obtained several key insights:

1. 1.Enzyme formulations can serve as additives in plastic productionProfessor Ge emphasized that immobilization significantly enhances enzyme activity and thermal stability, allowing the enzymes to withstand the stresses of plastic extrusion processes. As additives, these enzymes can improve the degradability of polyester plastics from the source. Given the high activity of our enzymes in marine environments, incorporating them into polyester products could enable efficient natural degradation in the ocean, playing a critical role in mitigating marine polyester pollution. Furthermore, many plastic manufacturers are highly interested in bio-additives, indicating strong market receptivity for enzyme formulations.
2. 2.Microplastics require particular attention.While source-level treatment and end-of-life recycling of polyester plastics have seen some progress in labs and industry, microplastics remain an unresolved challenge due to their small size, low concentration, and uneven distribution in marine environments. Developed regions, particularly in Europe, have highlighted this issue and called for scientific focus. Both the technical difficulty and the high societal need make microplastic degradation a key area of concern.
3. 3.Cost is a critical factor for commercialization.Many enzyme products fail to transition from laboratory to industrial use, not due to technical performance, but because industrial-scale production is prohibitively expensive. For enzyme formulations used as additives, while they enhance degradability, they also introduce additional costs. The acceptability of these costs by manufacturers is crucial to commercialization. Ensuring consistent quality while controlling costs significantly increases the likelihood of successful technology translation. Government agencies also pay particular attention to this aspect, especially for polyester degradation initiatives.
4. From our discussion with Professor Ge, we concluded that enzyme formulations have a solid market foundation and acceptance. As additives, they can enhance the degradability of polyester plastics from the source, echoing Professor Liu’s perspective and representing a highly promising avenue for technology translation.
5. Additionally, solutions targeting microplastic degradation remain largely unexplored aligning with Manager Shan’s insights. We aim to integrate our detection platform to enable effective control of microplastics from both enzymatic detection and degradation perspectives. Finally, cost considerations remain paramount, as they ultimately determine the feasibility of technology translation and large-scale implementation.

Interview with Professor Ge online

Picture of Professor Ge

Industrial Application and Production Survey

After confirming the high potential for commercialization of our enzyme formulation and detection platform, we sought to gain a deeper understanding of practical issues such as product cost, market scope, industrial production standards, and requirements for deployment. To this end, we consulted with Professor Liu Yu and conducted a field visit to Shenzhen Synthetic Epoch Company during the summer.

Technology Translation

Regarding technology translation, Professor Liu highlighted that commercialization is one of the greatest challenges in the industrialization of synthetic biology projects. Transitioning from the laboratory to industrial scale requires effective technology transfer, including process optimization, large-scale production facility design, and ensuring the economic feasibility of the entire production workflow. For our enzyme formulations, key considerations include post-addition activity in products, stable and continuous output, and production cost accounting. For the detection platform, the scope and accuracy of detection, validation of degradation performance, and targeted application scenarios require careful evaluation.

Smooth Transition to Industrial-Scale Production

To ensure a smooth transition to industrial-scale production and market application, Professor Liu recommended focusing on several key aspects during the laboratory phase: scaling up production processes, simulating industrial conditions at medium scale to determine product concentration and activity, controlling purification costs, and accurately evaluating substrate versatility using different types of formulation plastic waste to ensure compatibility with various forms and contamination levels.

Vision for Industrial-Scale Application

For our vision of industrial-scale application in formulated plastics, Professor Liu suggested paying close attention to existing mainstream polyester waste treatment solutions. By integrating our innovative technology with mature methods, we can leverage their existing market and commercial foundation, greatly saving time and resources while gaining additional attention and support. Following the interview, we toured the production workshop of Shenzhen Synthetic Epoch Company with Professor Liu.

Interview with Manager Liu and Her Team

Picture with the Team of Synthera

Cost Impact Investigation

To further investigate the cost impact of using enzyme formulations as additives in formulated plastic products, we interviewed Manager Huibing Si from Henan Jiahe Packaging Co., Ltd.

Manager Si advised that product cost should not be judged solely on price; the long-term benefits brought by product performance must also be considered, as this represents the true competitiveness of a new product. We can compare our product costs with existing additives on the market (horizontal comparison) and assess improvements in performance (vertical comparison), highlighting the significant advantage of enzyme formulations in enhancing polyester degradation. This approach demonstrates potential reductions in pollution management and product recycling costs, increasing manufacturers' acceptance of our product costs.

He also emphasized the importance of verifying that adding enzyme formulations does not negatively affect the inherent properties of polyester plastics. The utility, safety, and convenience of the plastic products are paramount for both producers and consumers; without these guarantees, product adoption and promotion would face major obstacles.

Furthermore, Manager Si noted that, under the strong global call for sustainable development by the United Nations and local governments, most companies prioritize green transformation. This trend significantly increases demand for our product, indicating great potential for its large-scale market application.

Cost Control Conclusion

After visiting the two companies, we concluded that estimating and controlling product costs is critical for the translation of laboratory results into industrial application. Current literature indicates that the cost of polyester degradation ranges from approximately $1.93 to $3.20 per kilogram, with enzymes accounting for only a few percentage points of total recycling costs, providing a concrete range for our cost control.

Based on Professor Liu's guidance and our laboratory results, using a 2% mass fraction of enzyme formulation (10% enzyme content) achieves the desired degradation effect (approximately 2 months). Our current laboratory yields suggest that the enzyme formulation cost can be controlled at $35.11 per ton of polyester, with immobilization costs at $14.05 per ton. This represents only about 0.03 of the production cost for low-cost PBAT plastic.

This cost level is not only far lower than existing enzymatic degradation solutions but also achieves nearly an 83.7% reduction compared with mainstream mechanical and chemical treatment methods. Such low production costs provide clear benefits to multiple stakeholders:

• For consumers: gain added degradability without compromising the performance of polyester products;
• For green-transforming enterprises: achieve lower production and recycling costs and more sustainable business prospects;
• For marine conservation organizations: obtain new avenues and broader coverage for pollution management;
• For governments: realize substantial reductions in environmental governance expenditures and tangible effects from supportive policies.

These findings establish a strong foundation for the POLYGONE project to achieve industrialization and provide clear direction for investment and resource mobilization.

NREL (2025) Plastics recycling with enzymes takes a leap forward. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Climent Barba, F. et al. (2022) A simple techno-economic assessment for scaling-up the enzymatic pretreatment of biomass. Frontiers in Energy Research, 10.
Singh, A. et al. (2021) Techno-economic, life-cycle, and socioeconomic impact analysis of enzymatic recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate). Joule, 5(9), 2479–2503.

Market Research and Entrepreneurship

To further expand the impact of our project, identify target market groups, and accelerate the translation of experimental results into practical applications, we interviewed Professor Xiaohu Pan from Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd.

Market Competitiveness

Professor Pan has extensive experience in polyester synthesis and applications. During our discussion, we learned that bioplastic additives—especially those that enhance plastic degradability—are highly competitive in the market. Product degradation is a key concern for every large-scale plastic manufacturer, driven not only by the need for green and sustainable development but also by the continuously rising costs of post-consumer plastic waste management, which imposes a significant economic burden on companies. Existing degradation methods rarely achieve both low cost and minimal environmental impact, leaving many enterprises struggling to address the issue effectively. If our product performs as expected, it has the potential to change the current usage patterns of polyester additives.

Economic and Technical Feasibility

From an economic and technical feasibility perspective, although large-scale market adoption of additives to enhance polyester degradability has yet to be fully verified, some companies, biochemical enterprises, and factories are already conducting pilot-scale enzyme-based degradation trials. Current polyester-degrading enzymes still require optimization, but with iterative improvements, enzyme yields and degradation performance in industrial processes are expected to increase. With technological iteration and process optimization, the standardized and stable production of polyester-degrading enzymes is highly feasible, ensuring a reliable supply of enzyme formulations and further expanding their market share.

Professor Pan's insights reinforced our confidence in translating laboratory results into industrial applications.

Interview with Manager Pan

Picture of Manager Pan

Consumer Acceptance Survey

In addition, we found that public support for "advanced recycled materials" reaches as high as 88%, suggesting optimistic acceptance for enzyme-containing plastics. To further assess consumer acceptance of enzyme-containing polyester products, we conducted a broad survey with over 300 respondents.

Survey results showed that 83.7% of respondents were willing to use enzyme-containing polyester products if product performance remained unaffected, indicating strong consumer acceptance, provided that product quality is ensured. However, 36.3% expressed concerns about safety and health risks, highlighting the need for validation by authoritative testing organizations to gain greater consumer trust. Furthermore, 43.8% believed that the price of enzyme-containing plastics should not increase, indicating that while consumers support such products, manufacturers must carefully manage production costs to maintain affordability.

Survey Questionnaire

Data of Questionnaire

Based on this in-depth market research, we are confident in the development prospects of our enzyme products. Leveraging these insights, we have drafted a preliminary entrepreneurship plan.

American Chemistry Council. (2023). Advanced Recycling Is Recycling, 88% of Americans Say. ACC press release.

Future Potential and Sustainability

Our project aims to promote sustainable development and aligns with multiple goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (SDGs). By designing a polyester-depolymerizing enzyme with broad substrate specificity, high activity, and high thermal stability, we have derived two products: an enzyme formulation and a detection platform. This approach not only addresses the limitations of existing bio-methods—namely high cost and small scale—but also reduces the likelihood of polyester plastics becoming marine pollutants at the source. Simultaneously, it enables long-term monitoring and degradation of existing polyester microplastics in the ocean, effectively preventing their re-entry into biological cycles and closing the "last mile" of marine polyester pollution management. This provides a promising and sustainable solution for efficiently mitigating marine polyester plastic pollution.

Circular Management Approach

Furthermore, we are committed to establishing a circular approach to managing marine polyester pollution, tightly integrating the lifecycle of plastic products with degradation enzymes to create a synergistic dual-loop system. Through enzyme modification enabled by synthetic biology, we contribute to marine protection and the sustainable development of oceans (SDG 14), promote responsible production and offer greener product choices for consumers (SDG 12), and encourage industrial green and sustainable development (SDG 9), thereby advancing the integration of environmental protection with a circular green economy.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, we will continue to expand the multi-faceted application of enzyme formulations across the polyester product chain, maintaining long-term, efficient collaborations with upstream and downstream enterprises to support the green transformation of the plastics economy. We will also promote consumer acceptance of enzyme-containing plastics, respond to government policies and initiatives, and foster an environmentally friendly societal culture. Additionally, we will continue to optimize the response efficiency of our polyester microplastic monitoring platform, striving for technological breakthroughs and improvements in degradation coverage and application scenarios, ensuring the ongoing progress and evolution of the project.

In the future, our project offers an innovative, biologically friendly, low-cost, and sustainable solution to marine polyester pollution, integrating into the global circular economy. Our efforts contribute to achieving the broader blueprint of global sustainable development, strengthening the harmonious relationship between humanity and the oceans, and creating a cleaner, bluer future for our shared living environment.

Reflections and Feedback

1） Exploration of Project Positioning

Our project initially focused on "how to achieve effective mitigation of marine polyester plastic pollution." However, as the HP work progressed, we gradually realized that this problem cannot be solved solely by developing a catalytically active enzyme. Rather, it is a comprehensive systemic challenge encompassing technical feasibility, industrial scalability, economic competitiveness, and social acceptance. This understanding led us to expand our research framework from purely laboratory exploration to a holistic mitigation strategy centered on polyester-degrading enzymes.

2） Feedback and Support from Experts and Entrepreneurs

Interviews with experts such as Professor Ge Jun, Professor Zhang Yifei, and Professor Liu Yu consistently highlighted that existing physical and chemical recycling methods are insufficient to address marine polyester pollution, particularly in the case of polyester microplastics. The high dispersion and persistence of microplastics in marine environments make traditional methods largely ineffective. While the market acknowledges the potential of enzymatic degradation, experts pointed out technical challenges such as insufficient enzyme stability in real marine conditions, limited substrate range, and poor salt- and temperature-resistance. These insights clarified our experimental priorities: in addition to achieving high degradation efficiency, we must focus on enzyme adaptability in real marine environments and performance under large-scale industrial conditions.

Industry feedback further emphasized the importance of scalability and economic viability. Representatives such as Professor Shan Xuefei, Professor Pan Xiaohu, and Professor Liu Yonglong noted that many recycling technologies fail not due to technical inefficiency but because of lack of economic competitiveness and scalability. In response, we incorporated techno-economic evaluations into our workflow and aligned our solutions with the lifecycle of polyester products, integrating yield, factory costs, and market-expected returns into the translation of laboratory results. This approach significantly improved the connection between laboratory outcomes and industrial feasibility.

3） Considerations of Factory and Consumer Acceptance

Through site visits and discussions with plastic manufacturers, we confirmed strong downstream demand for our products, which bodes well for market adoption and promotion. Manufacturers also emphasized the need to focus on cost management during experimentation, reinforcing expert feedback that economic feasibility is critical for translating lab results into industrial applications. Furthermore, regarding the use of enzyme formulations as additives in polyester production, manufacturers advised monitoring potential impacts on product performance. Our laboratory tests confirmed that, after optimization, our enzyme formulations can realize degrading polyester in 2 months without compromising mechanical properties—a highly encouraging result.

Consumer survey results revealed a dual pattern of social acceptance for enzyme-containing plastics. On one hand, over 80% of respondents indicated willingness to support enzyme-containing products if performance remained unchanged. On the other hand, a portion of consumers expressed concerns about health safety and potential price increases. Additionally, Professor Liu Yonglong warned that public misconceptions about "degradable" labels could lead to further pollution, highlighting the importance of science communication. These insights motivated us to incorporate scientific dissemination, transparent certification, and standard-setting as core objectives, rather than ancillary tasks.

4） Translation of Laboratory Results into Practice—Entrepreneurship Plan

Through ongoing HP work, we recognized that breakthroughs in laboratory technology must align closely with future market application scenarios. Accordingly, we developed an entrepreneurship plan to systematically outline product design and deployment paths for polyester-degrading enzymes. The plan covers iterative optimization of core technology, techno-economic feasibility of process scale-up, and collaboration models with upstream and downstream industries. It clarifies potential commercial models and emphasizes the economic circularity of our approach in conjunction with the polyester lifecycle. This process transforms laboratory findings into actionable, scalable solutions, laying a strong foundation for policy engagement, investment acquisition, and market entry.

5） Review and Summary

Reflecting on the project, HP work has not been merely a supplement to laboratory achievements; it has served as a core driver shaping the overall direction of the project. Every activity highlighted that scientific research and societal needs are not naturally aligned, necessitating continuous dialogue, feedback, and iteration. This process transformed our project from a purely laboratory-based study into an integrated framework combining scientific, industrial, and societal dimensions. Insights from experts emphasized environmental urgency and technical priorities, industry representatives highlighted cost constraints and market considerations, and consumer feedback revealed safety concerns—all directly influenced experimental design priorities and project goals.

Consequently, we understand that the project's value lies not only in demonstrating that polyester-degrading enzymes can effectively mitigate marine pollution but also in proving that our technology can meet industrial requirements, withstand scale-up challenges, gain social and consumer trust, and sustainably promote the integration of green economic cycles with marine environmental protection.

6） Future Potential and Development Directions

The enzyme products developed by our team provide a novel solution to marine polyester pollution, improving upon existing technical methods. Through entrepreneurial efforts, we have bridged the information gap between laboratory results and market demand, providing guidance for industrial production and commercialization. In the final stage of the project, our goal is to achieve standardized industrial-scale production of enzyme formulations, ensuring cost control and increasing market acceptance. This will enable us to meaningfully address marine polyester pollution, particularly the urgent challenge of microplastic contamination.

We aim to offer a fresh perspective on managing marine polyester plastics through comprehensive research and practice, promoting the continuous integration of laboratory technology with the polyester industry. By developing enzyme products with broader production and application scopes, we seek to advance marine environmental protection and support sustainable development.

Privacy Policy

Communication and Collaboration

Throughout the project, we have adhered to the principles of open collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange. Through transparent and efficient communication, as well as mutually beneficial cooperation, we have not only promoted the dissemination of synthetic biology knowledge and technological development, but also actively integrated expertise and insights from diverse fields. This multidimensional collaboration has injected fresh perspectives and innovative momentum into the project, enabling it to better address the complex challenges posed by marine polyester plastic pollution.

Moreover, through multi-level, multidisciplinary collaborations both domestically and internationally, we have facilitated the flow and sharing of knowledge among researchers, enterprises, and the public, allowing audiences from diverse backgrounds to engage with and understand synthetic biology, thereby enhancing the social impact and practical value of the project.

We conducted multiple exchanges with domestic and international iGEM teams and experts, including China Agricultural University, Beijing Normal University (Zhuhai Campus), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Beijing No.11 High School, University of Oslo (Norway), SynFronteras UNILA (Argentina), Argentine scientist Ben Bertini, and Biopchito ambassadors. These discussions focused on the implementation and impact of human practices within the project, the inclusiveness and reach of educational initiatives, the sharing and optimization of experimental strategies, and the utilization of local resources. These exchanges not only established strong collaborative relationships but also provided diverse perspectives on human practices and educational efforts.

Communication

Communication

In addition, we actively participated in events such as the Synbio Challenge (SC), CCiC Conference, Beijing International Science Exchange Week, and the 20th China Recycled Plastics Exhibition. These platforms provided valuable opportunities to engage with iGEM teams, synthetic biology research groups, and the polyester plastic industry. Through these interactions, we discussed technical bottlenecks and concerns regarding project implementation, explored potential collaboration opportunities, and promoted the visibility and adoption of synthetic biology in industry.

Furthermore, we organized and designed several interactive outreach activities, including World Earth Day campus outreach, the "Me and My Engineered Bacteria Friend" educational program for children, and "Lab-Industry Open Days" science outreach events. These activities not only raised awareness of the POLYGONE project itself but also increased public understanding and recognition of synthetic biology, especially among students, laying a strong foundation for the ongoing development and sustainability of the project.

Our conferences

collaborations

Science Outreach

Special Edition

We recognized the unique role of artistic expression in promoting scientific research. Compared to traditional popular science texts, artistic approaches can visually convey the beauty of science to the public while highlighting the distinctive features of different scientific disciplines, thereby enhancing the communication and dissemination of synthetic biology.

This year, we collaborated with multiple organizations to promote synthetic biology and marine conservation through various artistic media, including painting, photography, podcasts, and DIY crafts. Additionally, as one of the organizers, we launched the Post Gallery poster campaign, inviting participation from iGEM teams worldwide. This initiative not only fostered interdisciplinary collaboration but also integrated the strengths of the humanities and natural sciences to achieve more effective outreach.

Some of our featured works are presented below.