This High Schooler Invented a Plant-Based Plastic That Removes Microplastics From the Environment as It Biodegrades
Reported bySmithsonian Innovation ↗·Sourced by Goodlede
Eighteen-year-old Arya Satheesh invented Eco Purge, a plant-based biodegradable plastic that degrades in two weeks and releases enzymes to break down existing microplastics in soil and water. She won the 2026 Earth Prize European category and received $12,500 to develop the prototype.
This is a prototype in early development; scaling and real-world environmental efficacy will require further testing and deployment.
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