Intropic, a San Francisco-based startup, has made significant strides in addressing the global issue of plastic waste with its innovative compostable plastic. Founded by Aaron Hall, a former UC Berkeley doctoral student, Intropic has developed a bioplastic that can be composted both industrially and at home. The key to this breakthrough lies in integrating enzymes directly into the plastic material.
The enzymes are added to the plastic at the initial stages of its lifecycle, enabling the plastic to undergo a process called depolymerization. This process reduces the polymer chains to monomers, which are easily broken down by natural microbial processes. The result is a material that can decompose significantly faster than traditional plastics. For example, under conditions of water and moderate heat (40°C or 104°F), PLA and PCL plastics treated with these additives can break down 98% faster than their untreated counterparts.
In industrial settings, such as manufacturing cutoffs or leftovers, the water-and-heat bath can break down the plastics in less than 48 hours. This rapid decomposition also occurs naturally in commercial composting environments for post-consumer plastics.
Intropic’s approach is unique because the enzymes are activated by both temperature and water, ensuring that the plastic doesn’t degrade prematurely under conditions like high humidity or in warm storage environments. The versatility of this additive means it can be incorporated into a wide range of plastic products without altering the existing manufacturing processes.
Intropic is particularly focused on applications in single-use packaging, especially in the food industry, but the technology has the potential for broader use in various types of plastic products. The startup is currently working on scaling up its manufacturing to larger quantities and is seeking partners for further development and application of its technology.
This development represents a promising step towards solving the persistent problem of plastic waste, offering a more sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastics.