Scientists at Japan’s Kyoto University have discovered bacteria that eat plastic.
According to a study, this specific kind of bacteria, named Ideonella sakaiensis, requires just two enzymes to break down plastic aka polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic found in bottles and Clothing.
After five years of working with microbes and plastics, the researchers identified Ideonella sakaiensis bacteria which can completely break down a thin Film of PET in only six weeks at a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius.
Even though scientists have found few species of fungi which can decompose plastic, Ideonella sakaiensis is the first known bacteria which can feed on PET.
On an average, the global production of PET was found to be 56 million tonnes per year, causing major environmental problem.