Japanese researchers have developed a cellulose-based plastic called CMCSP that the team reports fully degrades in seawater without leaving microplastics. The material is said to match the strength and transparency of petroleum-derived plastics while remaining modifiable. The work, led by Takuzo Aida at RIKEN CEMS, is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Researchers are now aiming to accelerate development and test real-world performance.
Japanese Researchers Create Plant-Based 'Perfect Plastic' That Leaves No Microplastics
A bag made from the new plant-based plastic dissolved in artificial seawater after a few hours (Riken)
Researchers in Japan report a plant-based plastic that fully breaks down in seawater without leaving microplastic fragments. Made from cellulose — the planet’s most abundant organic compound — the new material is described as flexible, tough, transparent and modifiable in ways similar to conventional petroleum-based plastics.
What Is CMCSP?
The team calls the material carboxymethyl cellulose supramolecular plastic (CMCSP). According to the study, CMCSP matches the mechanical strength of many petroleum-derived plastics while retaining the ability to dissolve and biodegrade in marine and other natural environments. The researchers say it is the first cellulose-derived plastic demonstrated to degrade rapidly without producing detectable microplastic residues.
Why This Matters
Microplastics — tiny fragments formed when conventional plastics break down — are now found across ecosystems, in food, water and even human tissue. A material that can perform like traditional plastics yet decompose cleanly in nature could reduce long-term contamination and help alleviate pressure on ecosystems and wildlife.
Study, Quotes And Next Steps
The work, led by Professor Takuzo Aida of the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), is reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society in a paper titled Supramolecular Ionic Polymerization: Cellulose-Based Supramolecular Plastics with Broadly Tunable Mechanical Properties. Professor Aida said: “From this abundant natural substance, we have created a flexible yet tough plastic material that safely decomposes in the ocean. This technology will help protect the Earth from plastic pollution.”
The authors note the study moves the concept toward more practical applications, and they are now working to accelerate development and evaluate real-world performance, manufacturing scalability and environmental safety under diverse conditions.
“Microplastics are everywhere — lurking in our food, water, and even the air we breathe.” — Excerpt from a Greenpeace petition urging governments to support a global treaty on plastic pollution.
In context, international talks to finalize a Global Plastic Pollution Treaty were not concluded as negotiators failed to reach agreement by August 2025. Activist organisations continue to press for decisive global action.
Caveats
While results are promising, the research is still moving from laboratory demonstrations toward scaled production and real-world testing. Independent verification and lifecycle assessments will be important to confirm environmental benefits and assess manufacturing impacts.
