Gold Prices Hold Near Seven-Week High as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
Swimming in the sweet spot: how marine animals save energy on long journeys 
Extreme heat, flooding, wildfires – Colorado’s formerly incarcerated people on the hazards they faced behind bars 
Fertile land for growing vegetables is at risk — but a scientific discovery could turn the tide 
South Korean Won Leads Asian FX Losses as Dollar Rises 
Neuralink Expands Brain Implant Trials with 12 Global Patients 
Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment 
European Stocks Flat as Oil Prices Rise, US CPI in Focus 
Is space worth the cost? Accounting experts say its value can’t be found in spreadsheets 
China Exports Beat July Forecasts as AI Demand Fuels High-Tech Trade 
Ukraine minerals deal: the idea that natural resource extraction can build peace has been around for decades 
Rice feeds billions of people – but its role in fueling climate change is growing 
Asian Stocks Rise as Weak US Jobs Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Gold Prices Surge 7% as Dollar Falls, Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease 
What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains 
Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028 
Parasites are ecological dark matter – and they need protecting 
UK start-up Polymateria Ltd has struck a deal with a 7-Eleven's supplier in Taiwan, South Plastic Industry Co., to use its innovative process to decompose plastic into a wax that is digested by nature.
President Chain Store Corp, which operates the 7-Eleven outlets, plans to reduce disposable plastic use to less than 20 percent of packaging by 2023.
Some 7-Eleven stores are now selling cheese-baked rice meals in Polymateria’s disposable packaging.
Polymateria has also inked a deal of up to US$100 million to license its technology to Formosa Plastics Corp, one of the world’s biggest petrochemical manufacturers.
Godrej Consumer Products Ltd in India will also start using Polymateria’s packaging later this year.
According to Polymateria CEO Niall Dunne, they are targetting the type of plastic that’s most likely to wind up in nature by using a solution that doesn’t need any composting technologies to biodegrade or capital expenditure.
Polymateria also has licensing agreements with plastics producers in Malaysia and the Philippines.
The deals are part of Polymateria's plan to solve the problem of plastic from snack wrappers, cups, and shopping bags that end up in oceans and landfills.
Dunne added that they are focused on Asia where a lot of the fugitive plastic is coming from and there aren’t substantial waste management systems in place.
Polymateria’s technology uses about a dozen kinds of chemicals, such as oils, rubbers, and desiccants, that are added to plastic during the manufacturing process.
The additives help break down plastic polymers and turn the plastic into a wax that is fully digested by natural bacteria and fungi.
The thinner packing materials infused with Polymateria's solution can decompose in as little as 226 days.
By comparison, it takes about 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in landfills.
Still, some scientists are calling for reducing the use of plastics and recycling instead.
Independent scientific advisers to the European Commission released a report that concluded “biodegradable plastics aren’t a silver bullet,” while others raised concerns that biodegradable plastics could encourage littering.
Dunne said while he agrees with reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic, their solution addresses an immediate problem that is not going away.
