Researchers turn cactus juice into biodegradable plastic

The material is more environmentally friendly than other biodegradables and disintegrates in water and soil

Spotted: Researchers at Mexico’s University of the Valley of Atemajac are using crushed cactus leaves to create biodegradable plastic. Cactus-based plastic is healthier for the environment than other alternatives because it is carbon neutral and non-toxic if consumed.

The process is straight forward. First, leaves from prickly pear cactus are blended into a juice. The liquid, which is bright green, thick and slimy, is mixed with glycerine, animal fat and wax. The result is thin and durable enough to be used for bags, the team says. 

The material breaks down in the soil within a month and disintegrates in water in just a few days. 

The material is better for the environment than other biodegradables, Sandra Pascoe Ortiz, the research professor who developed the material, says. For instance, unlike corn, cactus grows on land that cannot be used for farming. It does not require fertiliser or resources to grow.

The material is not commercially available yet. But the team is currently working with a company to produce it. 

Springwise has spotted other innovative efforts to create biodegradable plastic, like bioplastic made from used cooking oil.