Problem
The world's modern chemical synthesis industry has relied heavily on petroleum-based feedstocks to create plastics and materials that power our daily lives.
While they are efficient in the short run, the system is extremely unsustainable. Such an example would be the production of virgin plastics, which consumes a large amount of fossil fuel,
releases greenhouse gases, and drives climate change (Zheng & Suh, 2019). Additionally, the industry produces significant chemical byproducts, many of which are toxic to both the ecosystems and environments we live in and people
(World Health Organization, 2023). Therefore, this means that our current system, one which is supposed to provide us with durable and affordable materials, is also causing the depletion of nonrenewable resources and facilitating the acceleration of global
environmental issues.
We are also able to observe the consequences of plastic use beyond manufacturing. While durable by design, when discarded, they often accumulate in landfills, rivers, and oceans (Parker, 2019). Even with current recycling methods, they fall short of the amount of accumulation that occurs.
Chemical recycling is not only energy intensive, but often also ends up emitting more pollutants than it prevents (Ciriminna & Pagliaro, 2023). As a result, plastics often remain in circulation for decades, contaminating soil, air, and water. There have been many cases in which these microplastics have been detected in our food supplies, drinking water, and even human tissues,
raising concerns about their effects on health (World Health Organization, 2022).
Developing research has also shown that chemicals often associated with plastic production and degradation have led to endocrine disruption, inflammatory responses, and chronic illnesses, making plastic waste not only an environmental issue but also an issue of public health (Diamanti-Kandarakis et al., 2009).
This unsustainable cycle requires change and a new approach. Instead of focusing on continuously producing virgin plastics and struggling to manage waste, we need a circular solution that can upcycle plastic into valuable products while minimizing any harm. Our project has adopted such a vision through synthetic biology.
Through the engineering of microorganisms that are capable of breaking down PET waste in controlled, aqueous environments, we're able to provide an alternative to existing recycling methods that helps avoid any toxic byproducts and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, our system is also able to transform that plastic waste into high-value
compounds that feed into a circular bioeconomy. This reduces the reliance on fossil fuels while creating more economic opportunities.
Click the SDG cards for more information!
SDG 3
Good Health and Well-being
SDG 9
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12
Responsible Consumption And Production
SDG 13
Climate Action
Negative Impacts on SDGs
While our project was designed with a focus on sustainability, we recognize that the energy-intensive bioreactor operations present a major conflict with SDG 7, which is affordable and clean energy. By increasing grid demand, we could potentially increase the reliance on fossil fuels and hinder the change towards renewables. This reliance on non-renewable energy would directly impact SDG 13 (climate action) by contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the associated pollution from energy generation can lead to habitat degradation and acidification, which negatively impact SDG 15 (life on land) and SDG 14 (life below water) by harming terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Through our life cycle assessment, we were able to pinpoint the stages with the highest carbon footprint, allowing us to prioritize strategic interventions or minimize our overall environmental impact. Specifically, our future plans include finding ways to minimize the carbon emissions within the production and purification stages.