# Plastic Bag Fuel Akinori Ito Has Invented a Machine that Converts Plastic Back into Crude Oil By Jordan M | Published 2011-02-14 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/akinori-ito References: [rexresearch](http://www.rexresearch.com/ito/ito.htm) & [cleantechnica](http://cleantechnica.com/2011/02/14/award-winning-inventor-makes-fuel-from-plastic-bags/) It is well known that plastic products such as plastic bags are made from oil, but Akinori Ito's revolutionary new machine has successfully proven that the transformation doesn't have to be a one-way street. Because plastic is a worldwide nuisance from the Pacific garbage patch to landfills around the globe, Akinori Ito's machine offers a ray of hope that this troublesome material which takes decades to break down naturally can become part of the solution to its own problems. **Implications** - With the fact that Americans use an astonishing 380 million plastic bags per year, it's no wonder that people are trying to find [alternative solutions to recycling](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/by-osmosis) these pesky products. Reducing plastic bag use could greatly improve the environment and decrease the amount of [plastic being put into landfills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pfas-removal-technology). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.3/10 - Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Plastic Bag Recycling:** A disruptive innovation opportunity lies in developing efficient and scalable methods to recycle plastic bags and reduce their environmental impact. - **Alternative Packaging Solutions:** There is a potential for disruptive innovation in developing and promoting alternative packaging options to replace plastic bags and reduce waste. - **Circular Economy Initiatives:** Creating circular economy models to encourage the reuse and repurposing of plastic bags can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities in waste management. ### Who This Affects Most - **Waste Management:** The waste management industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities to develop efficient plastic bag recycling systems. - **Packaging:** The packaging industry can seize disruptive innovation opportunities by creating and promoting sustainable packaging solutions to replace plastic bags. - **Renewable Energy:** The renewable energy industry may find disruptive innovation opportunities by utilizing the crude oil produced from recycled plastic bags as a fuel source. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [3D-Printed Filament Makers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polyformer.md) - [Gasoline-Producing Prototype Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aircela.md) - [Recycled Plastic Tiny Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recycled-plastic-tiny-home.md) - [Seafood Waste Bioplastics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/natnov-bioscience.md) - [Upcycled Building Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plaex-building-systems-inc.md) - [AI-Powered Recycling Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/binko-recycling-machine.md) - [Plant-Based Plastic Bottles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-pet-bottle.md) - [Recycled Plastic Decor Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plastplan-design-studio.md) - [Plastic Bottle Recycling Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bottle-strip-cutter.md)