Plastics embedded with enzymes degrade readily in the sea

Nature, Published online: 21 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03282-x

Embedding enzymes that break down ester bonds into compostable polyesters enables rapid and complete biodegradation even in microbe-scarce environments. This method is effective in marine sites ranging from coastal sea water to the deep sea, and could therefore contribute towards solving the global plastic pollution problem.