Achievement

The current state of the field and overarching challenges of what is loosely called “Sustainable Plastics” were explored in a module developed by Prof. Geoffrey Coates. These materials include polymers made from renewable resources, such as sugar, carbon monoxide and dioxide, and glycerol, as well as biodegradable or recyclable polymers. The search for new materials that can replace environmentally “bad” plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride and bisphenol-A polycarbonate, was also discussed. The module explored specific aspects of sustainable polymers such as new ways to recycle them and techniques for measuring long-term toxicity and biodegradability.