HACKER Q&A
📣 gavribirnbaum

What Is the Next Plastic?


I was just wondering – is there any new research you folks can point me towards? Really interested to see how the material science on polymers is going.


  👤 giantg2 Accepted Answer ✓
There are plastics being made from non-petroluem base chemicals. For example, biodegradable rigid 'plastic' golf tees have been around for a while. I think they can make flexible 'plastic' bags from cassava.

There are other types of materials being researched which could replace some plastics too, like mushroom packaging that can be composted or corn based styrofoam that dissolves in water.


👤 rogerkirkness
Assuming you don't mean exactly like plastic, graphene seems pretty promising.