NEW PLASTIC INVENTION DISSOLVES IN SEAWATER

NEW PLASTIC INVENTION DISSOLVES IN SEAWATER

Plastic pollution is choking our oceans, and yet humanity keeps producing more of it—about 400 million tons every year, according to the United Nations. Less than 10% gets recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills, rivers, and the sea. By 2050, global plastic production is projected to triple. Against this backdrop, two parallel inventions have emerged that could change the way we think about plastics forever.

The first comes from Japan, where researchers at RIKEN and the University of Tokyo have created a plastic that literally dissolves in seawater within hours. This is not science fiction. In lab tests, a sheet of this material disappeared in about 60 minutes when stirred in seawater. Unlike traditional plastics that break down into harmful microplastics, this one decomposes into natural compounds like nitrogen and phosphorus, which marine microbes actually absorb.

How did they do it? By using supramolecular chemistry—a system of ionic monomers linked by reversible salt bonds. In plain language: strong enough to behave like normal plastic while in use, but weak enough to collapse in saline conditions. To add to its appeal, it is flame-resistant, non-toxic, and carbon-neutral during decomposition.

The second breakthrough is homegrown. A young Filipino inventor from Cebu, Denxybel Montinola, has developed a bioplastic made from mango peels (pectin) and seaweeds (carrageenan). Instead of chemistry-driven bonds, this invention uses organic materials abundant in the Philippines. It’s flexible, strong, and, most importantly, dissolves completely in water without leaving behind microplastics or toxic residue.

Now let me say this: the Philippine government should immediately take a deep interest in both inventions. But naturally, my bias is with Montinola’s work. Here is a young Filipino scientist showing us that the solution to plastic pollution may lie in our very own backyards—or in this case, in our leftover mango peels and seaweed farms. Why are we not giving him full support?

I do not know how much help he is already getting, but at the very least, Montinola’s invention deserves a research grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Beyond that, agencies like the DENR, DA-BFAR, and the UP Marine Science Institute should be in the picture. These institutions could provide not just funding but also the scientific muscle to move this invention from prototype to commercialization.

Let’s also ask a few hard questions. Why is it that in the Philippines, brilliant young inventors often get recognition abroad before they get support at home? How many Filipino innovations have been wasted because no agency stepped in early enough? Are we content to let Japan, the US, or Europe buy the patents and commercialize them while our own talents fade into obscurity?

The Japanese invention is clearly a technological marvel, but Montinola’s approach might actually be more practical for the Philippines. Why? Because it is locally sourced, low-cost, and scalable. We grow mangoes by millions of tons, and we are one of the world’s top producers of seaweed. Imagine turning agricultural byproducts into a plastic substitute that could save our oceans. That is circular economy thinking at its best.

The challenge, of course, is scale. Both the Japanese and Filipino versions are still at the research stage, far from mass production. But isn’t that exactly where the government should come in? Instead of waiting until the product is perfected abroad, why not invest now? Why not make the Philippines a hub for bioplastic production in Asia?

Even at this early stage, the potential is staggering. These materials could replace single-use plastics—the sachets, bags, and bottles that clog our esteros and wash up on our beaches. And if perfected, they could even address the more insidious problem of microplastics. Scientists recently discovered microplastics in human blood, lungs, and even placentas. In other words, the plastic problem is not just an environmental crisis—it is a public health crisis.

In my view, Montinola’s work deserves not just a grant, but a national innovation program that brings together government, universities, and industry. Why not a pilot project with coastal barangays, turning seaweed farming into both a livelihood and a solution to plastic pollution? Why not integrate it with local packaging cooperatives, so communities themselves become part of the solution?

Here is my bottom line: whether chemical or organic, whether from Tokyo or Cebu, the future of plastic is one that does not outlive us. The question is whether the Philippines will lead—or just follow—when that future arrives.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres

iseneres@yahoo.com, senseneres.blogspot.com 

01-01-2026