Super Enzyme Breaks Down Plastic Bottles in Hours, Not Centuries

Researchers have created an engineered 'super enzyme' that can digest plastic bottles in hours rather than the centuries they would take to decompose naturally. The breakthrough could transform plastic recycling.

"This enzyme is six times faster than anything we've seen before," said the lead scientist. "It could be the key to truly circular plastic recycling."

“The breakthrough could transform plastic recycling.”

The enzyme breaks PET plastic down into its chemical building blocks, which can then be used to make new, virgin-quality plastic bottles, potentially creating an infinite recycling loop.