In recent years, the discovery of bacteria capable of degrading plastic has sparked hope for a biological solution to one of our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Among these discoveries, a team of scientists at National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU), partners of Let’s Do It Taiwan and led by Professor Ying-Ning Ho, identified a new species of bacteria, Oceanimonas pelagia. These bacteria have shown promising signs of breaking down polyethylene (PE), a plastic commonly used in packaging and products such as shopping bags.
But what does this discovery truly mean for efforts to tackle the overwhelming plastic pollution crisis? And how can these bacteria be used in a practical, environmentally responsible way? Let’s dive into the science and implications of plastic-degrading bacteria.
Discovered from marine sediments off Taiwan’s northern coast, Oceanimonas pelagia has shown the ability to degrade 10-15% of polyethylene over 120 days in laboratory conditions. While this is a slow and partial degradation, it’s an encouraging sign that natural organisms could help reduce the persistence of plastics in the environment. These bacteria also show promise for breaking down diesel fuel, which could have wider applications for environmental cleanups.
Oceanimonas pelagia is one of a number of plastic-degrading bacteria to be discovered over the years. The first such discovery was back in 2016, when researchers in Japan identified Ideonella sakaiensis, a bacteria strain able to completely degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—a plastic commonly used in bottles—within six weeks. These bacteria, along with fungi species capable of similar tasks, are part of a growing body of research that aims to apply natural organisms to the challenge of tackling plastic pollution.
While these discoveries are promising, applying plastic-degrading bacteria to the task of cleaning up our environments comes with both challenges and risks.
Readers who’ve heard of past examples of organisms being introduced into a new habitat for environmental reasons, only to backfire and cause more harm than good, might hear alarm bells ringing at the thought of introducing Oceanimonas pelagia directly into oceans or natural environments.
You’d be quite right to doubt: while bacteria might help degrade plastic, there is always a risk they could outcompete native species or cause unintended ecological imbalances if introduced into a non-native habitat. Additionally, plastic degradation by bacteria can release chemical by-products, some of which may be environmentally harmful.
Before any large-scale application, thorough testing is needed to understand the broader ecological impacts, and find ways in which such bacteria could help clean up our world through risk-free methods.
One potential such method would be to use these bacteria in wastewater treatment plants or closed systems where plastic waste can be concentrated and treated. This could prevent microplastics from flowing into oceans or rivers, and allow the bacteria to work in a more controlled, optimised environment.
Another solution could involve bioremediation mats or filters, which are specialised materials containing bacteria or other microorganisms that degrade pollutants like plastics. This would localise bacterial treatment and reduce the chance of the bacteria disrupting native ecosystems.
As is often the case with technical solutions to environmental issues, it’s important to be realistic about the potential and recognise that our responsibility to reduce our impact remains of the utmost importance. Although bacteria like Oceanimonas pelagia do provide a glimmer of hope for dealing with existing plastic waste, they are not a quick fix.
Plastic degradation, even with bacteria, is a slow process. The NTOU team’s discovery, while significant, managed to degrade only a small percentage of plastic over several months. Moreover, research on the ability of bacteria to break down microplastics is still ongoing, and so far, it seems that bacteria are more efficient at tackling larger plastic pieces.
During his interview as part of our World Cleanup Day broadcast, Professor Ying-Ning Ho emphasised that while this discovery is promising, the solution to plastic pollution lies more in prevention than in relying on biological degradation. Ho pointed out that reducing plastic production and carrying out cleanups are essential steps that we can all take.
Let’s Do It Taiwan has been collaborating with Professor Ying-Ning Ho for World Cleanup Day on Friday 20 September, with him and his team being enthusiastic participants in Taiwan’s national cleanup. This partnership underscores the idea that the best strategy involves a combination of efforts: reducing plastic production, improving waste management, continuing to clean up existing plastic waste, and further exploring the safe, controlled use of bacteria like Oceanimonas pelagia to tackle what remains.
Let’s Do It World's efforts, including those highlighted in Taiwan, continue to focus on mobilising communities and raising awareness about the importance of tackling plastic pollution at its source and removing plastic waste from our environments. Bacteria may one day play a key role in cleaning up what's left behind, but for now, the most powerful tool we have is prevention.
By integrating scientific insights with practical action, and building collaboration across all sectors and countries of the world, we can move closer to a future where plastic pollution is no longer a global crisis. Together, we can make a difference for a clean and healthy waste-free planet!
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