Biodegradable Plastic in Ocean Water

Marine microorganisms found to feast on new polyurethane materials used in sustainable shoes

Polyurethane foams in seawater tank. — Polyurethane foams biodegrade after one month in a seawater tank. Credit: Daniel Zhen, Algenesis Inc.

A sustainable Blueview shoe is shown biodegrading in seawater after being submerged for 12 weeks.

Daniel Zhen collects shoe samples off Scripps Pier.

Marissa Tessman and Daniel Zhen analyze a biodegraded shoe.

A Blueview shoe biodegrades in ocean water after 11 weeks.

Polyurethane foams submerged at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier.

Polyurethane foams biodegrade after one month in a seawater tank. Credit: Daniel Zhen, Algenesis Inc.

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A sustainable Blueview shoe is shown biodegrading in seawater after being submerged for 12 weeks. Credit: Daniel Zhen, Algenesis Inc.

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Even a small uninhabited island in the Maldives is marked with human pollution. The flip-flops on this Indian Ocean beach likely came from India or China, more than 1,000 miles away. Credit: Stephen Mayfield

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Daniel Zhen (BS Marine Biology 2020) of Algenesis collects shoe samples off the Scripps Pier. Credit: Ryan Simkovsky

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Marissa Tessman (BS Chemistry 2014, MS Chemistry 2016) and Daniel Zhen (BS Marine Biology 2020) of Algenesis analyze a biodegraded Blueview shoe. Credit: Ryan Simkovsky

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A sustainable Blueview shoe biodegrades in ocean water after 11 weeks. Credit: Daniel Zhen, Algenesis Inc.

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Researchers studied polyurethane foams submerged at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier. Credit: Samantha Clements, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego

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