Chinese companies phase in green plastics developed at KAUST

Summary

KAUST and Chinese companies Shandong Lianxin Environmental Protection Technology and Hangzhou Hecai Technology will manufacture green plastics based on KAUST technology. The plastics, high molar mass aliphatic polycarbonates, are for biomedical products and food packaging due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. KAUST's method creates these polycarbonates using CO2 and sustainable raw materials without toxic metals, with production scaling over two years. Why it matters: This partnership highlights KAUST's role in developing sustainable materials and bringing them to market, with potential impact on reducing reliance on traditional plastics in sensitive applications.