Transparent paper-based material can hold boiling water, and biodegradable in less than a year after settling on the ocean floor

https://phys.org/news/2025-04-transparent-paper-based-material-degrade.html

"stands up to liquids for several hours, replacing plastic cups, straws... , and other everyday objects... cellulose hydrogel is dried, treated with aqueous lithium bromide solution forcing cellulose to solidify into desired shapes... end-products thin as plastic cup walls, or as thick as desired... material called tPB... no signs of collapse seen in paper straws... leaked just a little bit after 3 hours, adding plant-based resin coating stopped from leaking at all... recycles easily, but less transparent after being melted/ reformed"

Related:

Velvet worm slime transformation from liquid to fiber and back again, process can be mimicked in recyclables
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1082900

Biodegradable plastic for mass-produced food packaging
https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2025/05/berries-just-beginning-bioplastic-breakthrough

Shrilk: A degradable bioplastic derived from shrimp shells and silk protein
https://wyss.harvard.edu/technology/bioplastic/

Researchers develop process to turn food waste into biodegradable plastic
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1091495

Adding cellulose makes bioplastics biodegradable, stronger
https://source.washu.edu/2025/07/leaf-inspired-design-brings-bioplastics-to-the-big-leagues/

Can grapevines help slow the plastic waste problem?
https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2025/08/can-grapevines-help-slow-plastic-waste-problem

Predictive rule reveals which sulfur-based building blocks create sustainable, degradable plastics
https://phys.org/news/2025-09-reveals-sulfur-based-blocks-sustainable.html

Milk ingredient helps produce a new bioplastic – and more can be done
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1096828

Biodegradable PET alternative bioproduced at unprecedented levels
https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/news/article/20250904-67078/

An edible fungus could make paper and fabric liquid-proof
https://phys.org/news/2025-10-edible-fungus-paper-fabric-liquid.html