# Plant-Based Plastics IBM Researchers Discover a Way to Create Highly Recyclable Plastic By Meghan Young | Published 2010-03-10 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-plastics References: [greeninc.blogs.nytimes](http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/scientists-develop-highly-recyclable-plastic/) Although we are finding ways to replace and reduce our use of plastic, it's hard to get away from something that has ingrained itself into our day-to-day lives. But with IBM's plant-based plastics, that may all change. IBM researchers, headed by Chandrasekhar Narayan, announced recently that they have discovered a way to create highly recyclable plastic by using [organic catalysts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/by-osmosis). These plant-based plastics will not only help our environment, they are also extremely cheap to produce. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.9/10 - Popularity: 1% | Activity: 19% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Plant-based Plastics:** Creating highly recyclable plastic using organic catalysts presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the plastics industry. - **Environmental Sustainability:** Replacing traditional plastics with plant-based options offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for companies looking to reduce their environmental impact. - **Cost-effective Production:** Developing plant-based plastics that are cheap to produce presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for manufacturers seeking cost-effective alternatives. ### Who This Affects Most - **Plastics Manufacturing:** The plastics manufacturing industry can embrace plant-based plastics as a disruptive innovation opportunity to create highly recyclable and environmentally friendly products. - **Packaging:** The packaging industry can capitalize on plant-based plastics as a disruptive innovation opportunity to offer sustainable and cost-effective packaging solutions. - **Consumer Goods:** The consumer goods industry can leverage plant-based plastics as a disruptive innovation opportunity to produce eco-friendly and affordable products for conscious consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Plant-Based Soda Bottles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-bottle.md) - [Bio-Based Paper Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paper-food-packaging.md) - [Plant-Based Beverage Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prototype-pet-bottle.md) - [Upcycled Building Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plaex-building-systems-inc.md) - [Seafood Waste Bioplastics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/natnov-bioscience.md) - [Food-Based Toy Block Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-6.md) - [Adaptable Plastic Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2m-group.md) - [Eco-Friendly Food Coatings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-coating.md) - [Bio-Based Single-Use Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/verigreen-plus.md)