Revolutionary Plastic-Eating Enzyme From Compost Heap Nears Commercial Use in Germany
A groundbreaking discovery in a Bavarian compost heap could transform global plastic waste management. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich have isolated a supercharged enzyme (dubbed “PETase 2.0”) that digests polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic six times faster than previous bio-solutions. Now, German startup EcoEnzyme is scaling production with a patented fermentation process that could make plastic recycling:
• Cheaper than producing virgin plastic
• Carbon-negative through byproduct capture
• Fully circular – breaks plastic down to reusable raw materials
The enzyme specifically targets:
♻️ Food packaging (90% degradation in 48 hours)
👕 Polyester textiles (entire garments in 5 days)
🔬 Microplastics (complete breakdown)
“Nature evolved this solution – we’re just helping it work at industrial scale,” says CEO Dr. Lena Fischer. Pilot plants will launch in Hamburg and Singapore by Q2 2024.
