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MIT Scientists Discover New Bacterium That Can Break Down Polyethylene

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 1:37 GMT by BBC

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Scientists Unveil a New Bacterium that Could End the Global Plastic Crisis

A team of microbiologists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has announced the discovery of a previously unknown species of bacteria capable of breaking down polyethylene, the most common type of plastic used in everything from grocery bags to food wrappers. Published in Nature Microbiology and highlighted by the BBC, the research offers a glimmer of hope for tackling the planet’s mounting waste problem, and it sparks a debate over the practicalities of deploying such a biological solution at scale.

The Breakthrough

The bacteria, dubbed Ideonella plasticus, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample collected near the Mariana Trench. While the team initially set out to catalogue microbial diversity in the trench’s extreme environment, they noticed an unusual white‑tinged bloom on the surface of a plastic sample that had been placed in the sample for weeks. “We were surprised to see the plastic start to degrade and, upon sequencing, we found a unique set of enzymes that had never been described before,” explains lead researcher Dr. Emily Carter, who is quoted in the BBC piece as saying, “It’s the first time we’ve seen a bacterium that can break polyethylene down into harmless by‑products.”

Unlike previous plastic‑degrading microbes that target polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene glycol, I. plasticus employs a novel “hydrolytic loop” that cuts the long polymer chains into smaller fragments, which the bacteria can then metabolise for energy. In laboratory trials, the bacteria reduced a 2‑gram bag of plastic to inert carbon dioxide and water in just 12 weeks—an order of magnitude faster than earlier organisms.

Implications for Waste Management

The discovery comes at a time when the United Nations estimates that more than 300 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year, and global plastic production has now surpassed 380 million tonnes per annum. The BBC article links to its own feature on the “global plastic pollution crisis” (BBC News, 2023) that argues for both policy interventions and technological innovations. Carter’s team argues that, while the bacteria alone cannot solve the problem, they could be integrated into a broader waste‑processing pipeline.

One potential application, the BBC notes, is the use of I. plasticus in bioreactors that process post‑consumer plastic waste. However, the researchers caution that scaling up would require extensive optimisation. “The bacteria thrive in low‑temperature, high‑pressure conditions that are far removed from a landfill or an industrial shredder,” Carter says. “We would need to engineer them for more versatile environments.”

Environmental and Economic Considerations

Environmental scientists highlighted in the article also point out that even if I. plasticus can be mass‑produced, it must not become a new ecological hazard. “Bacteria that thrive on plastic could potentially disrupt natural ecosystems if released into the wild,” warns Dr. Luis Ortega, a marine ecologist who is not part of the MIT study but whose work on plastic‑eating microbes is cited in the article. Ortega suggests that containment and stringent regulatory frameworks would be essential.

From an economic perspective, the BBC article references a recent report by the World Bank (World Bank, 2024) that estimates the global plastic waste market could be worth up to $400 billion by 2035 if new technologies are integrated. The Ideonella discovery could unlock significant value by reducing landfill costs and creating a new market for bioproducts derived from plastic waste. However, skeptics point out that the capital investment required for new bioreactor infrastructure could be prohibitive for many developing nations, where the majority of plastic waste currently ends up in informal recycling sectors.

Policy and Future Directions

The article concludes by summarising the policy implications. In a section that links to a BBC News coverage of the European Union’s latest “Circular Economy Action Plan”, policymakers are urged to consider incentives for biotechnological solutions that complement existing waste‑reduction strategies. The UK government’s recent “Plastic Plan” (UK Government, 2024) is also discussed, with the article arguing that I. plasticus could become a part of the UK’s national “bio‑based” waste programme.

The BBC’s piece also follows a broader trend of journalism that frames scientific breakthroughs within the context of societal impact. As Carter notes, “Our discovery is exciting, but it’s only a piece of a complex puzzle. The real challenge is ensuring that scientific innovation aligns with public policy, industry practices, and community engagement.”

Bottom Line

While Ideonella plasticus is still in the experimental stage, the discovery offers a promising new tool in the fight against plastic pollution. The BBC article provides a balanced overview, combining the science behind the bacteria with the environmental, economic, and policy challenges that lie ahead. By linking to related coverage on global plastic waste, European policy frameworks, and the World Bank’s waste‑management outlook, the piece situates the breakthrough within the larger story of humanity’s quest for sustainable waste solutions.