Changing plastic for good

This includes:

• Bio-based and biodegradable plastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are produced by microbes and can safely biodegrade in natural environments;
• Non-plastic substitutes, like moulded fibre packaging or advanced paper-based packaging that can replace conventional plastics in key applications;
• Technologies that improve the safety or circularity of existing materials, like replacing hazardous additives with safer alternatives or enhancing recyclability with better design.

If we continue using these synthetic materials, we commit future generations to the same harm.

We can change our future for good by supporting the development of sustainable materials that don’t harm our bodies or the environment.

Supporting these new technologies will help them become commercially viable and scalable, setting up a new wave of materials that we and future generations can use safely.

Scalability: While promising alternatives to plastic are emerging (e.g., bioplastics, PHAs), many are not yet scalable or cost-competitive with conventional plastics.

Performance Limitations: Many sustainable materials don’t yet match the performance of plastics in certain applications, such as durability, heat resistance, or flexibility.

End-of-Life Solutions: While some materials are biodegradable, the lack of proper waste management infrastructure for these materials can lead to environmental problems.

Chemical Safety: Some "green" alternatives, like bioplastics, contain harmful additives or chemicals, raising concerns about long-term environmental impact and human health risks.

Material Diversity: There is a lack of diverse, low-impact alternatives that can replace plastics across all industries, particularly in complex products like electronics, packaging, and textiles.

Consumer Awareness & Acceptance: Despite innovations, many consumers are not aware of sustainable materials or may not fully trust their performance or environmental claims.