Trash to treat: Scientists are baking with plastic waste

Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale presented a process at the American Chemical Society's fall meeting that uses engineered yeast to convert PET plastic and agricultural waste into protein-rich food ingredients. The material is broken down via oxidative hydrothermal dissolution, then fed to yeast programmed to reform it into proteins, fats, vitamins and flavorings, which get 3D printed into cookies.

The project grew out of NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, with hopes the resulting µBites could feed astronauts, submariners, or people in resource-limited regions within a few years. Researchers say the cookies are technically safe to eat but are still awaiting approval before an actual taste test.

One researcher acknowledged people already ingest micro- and nano-plastics daily, framing the cookie as an improvement since it turns that plastic into needed protein rather than just plastic. The project remains, by the team's own account, only a proof of concept.

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