New Breakthrough: Scientists Turn Food Waste Into Plastic Alternative Video Watch time under 1 minute July 28, 2025 Image By feeding fermented food scraps to a bacterium called Cupriavidus necator, researchers at Binghamton University were able to produce a biodegradable material that works like plastic, but breaks down naturally. It’s a breakthrough, tackling two global challenges at once: our growing piles of food waste and non-biodegradable plastic. Topics Life Science Environmental Science Earth Science Share