Consuming Our Plastic Problem, Literally

Experts are developing edible microbes as a human food source, specifically ones that consume plastic

Hiya!

You’re likely aware that microplastics are yet another growing problem we’d rather ignore but are forced to deal with — after all, I just wrote about it. The good news is that this subject has captured the attention of scientists, researchers, and governments alike.

Now, brilliant minds worldwide are working hard to understand not just how microplastics affect our health but also how to reduce our reliance on plastics and safely dispose of the monumental plastic waste we’ve accumulated.

In that regard, a project initiated by the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) developed a… creative solution to help solve part of the military’s plastic problem while also providing sustenance for people in emergency situations. That is, if we can overcome the ick factor.

The Military’s Plastic Problem

In addition to scientists and capitalists, governments are also highly involved in developing solutions to combat our global plastic problem. According to recent reporting by the United Nations Environment Program, the world creates about 440 million tons of plastic waste annually. That’s an incomprehensible amount of waste in a single year.

Many governments and scientists agree that we must collectively reduce our plastic production, and some countries and US states have already introduced more eco-friendly policies to encourage recycling. In addition to cultivating more eco-friendly consumer habits, the military has a particularly tricky plastic problem that needs a solution.

During war, the military transports supplies to troops in remote places, but delivering these supplies often endangers the people transporting them and the soldiers on location. Further, much of the delivered supplies are made of plastic, especially food containers, which the soldiers are responsible for disposing of after use.

Nikki Zander, a chemist for the Army Research Laboratory, explained to Thomas Brading of the Army News Service that,

“In austere environments, a cache of plastic debris – such as empty water bottles, milk jugs, and yogurt containers – often pile up and cause a logistical burden on soldiers to dispose of. With nowhere to go, the garbage is often burned. The smoke releases toxic fumes into the air, potentially causing respiratory hazards for Soldiers.”

In 2019, an agency within the United States’ Department of Defense, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), called for proposals aiming to help the military deal with the copious amount of plastic waste when soldiers are in disaster zones and remote areas.

Leonard Tender, a program manager at DARPA who is overseeing the plastic waste projects, explained to Sara Talpos of Undark that,

“Getting those waste products off of those sites responsibly is a huge lift.”

Reducing the amount of plastic used for these purposes in the military helps the larger goal of reducing overall plastic production and makes soldiers' lives easier by removing logistical annoyance.

But how, precisely, can this happen?

Well, what if they eat it?

Solution?

As we’re learning, Nature has a solution for everything. While humans are busy innovating ways to solve the plastic problem we created, Nature has been busy evolving various microorganisms, such as bacteria and enzymes, that eat plastic materials. Of course, that’s not to say we shouldn’t continue finding ways to reduce our reliance on plastic.

Still, scientists are jumping on Nature’s bandwagon by experimenting with these newly found plastic-eating micro-lives, including DARPA’s plastic project.

However, DARPA is taking a slightly different approach. The agency is known for taking on high-risk, high-reward projects, which means there’s a high chance of any particular endeavor failing, but when one succeeds, it has the potential to be a massive breakthrough. Tenner explained to Talpos:

“Our goal is to go from disbelief, like, ‘You’re kidding me. You want to do what?’ to ‘You know, that might be actually feasible.’”

And DARPA’s plastic plan perfectly aligns with such a philosophy.