It is reported that researchers in Japan have developed a new type of plant-based plastic that they claim can fully degrade in seawater without leaving any microplastic residues.

This material is made from plant cellulose, the most abundant organic compound on Earth. The researchers stated that this material will also decompose in other natural environments without polluting the soil or causing harm to animals and plants. The ability of this material to safely decompose in the ocean will contribute to protecting the Earth from plastic pollution. They now plan to apply this material to real-life scenarios.

This material, known as carboxymethyl cellulose supramolecular plastic, is claimed to have a strength comparable to that of traditional petroleum-based plastics. The researchers indicated that this material can be modified using similar methods, and during this modification process, its transparency and solubility remain unaffected.

The relevant research findings were published in the "Journal of the American Chemical Society," with the study titled "Supramolecular Ionic Polymerization: Cellulose-Based Supramolecular Plastics with Broadly Tunable Mechanical Properties."