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Irish Teen Invents Plant-Based Plastic to Fight Microplastics
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Moneycontrol•13-10-2026, 12:44
Irish Teen Invents Plant-Based Plastic to Fight Microplastics
- •Eighteen-year-old Arya Satheesh from Ireland developed Eco Purge, a plant-based biodegradable plastic designed to release enzymes that break down existing microplastics.
- •The innovative project won the European regional category of The Earth Prize 2026, earning Satheesh $12,500 to further develop her prototype.
- •Eco Purge is formulated to target PET-derived plastics by releasing specialized enzymes as it degrades under suitable conditions in soil or water.
- •Initial six-week tests in soil, fresh water, and salt water showed promising degradation of both the Eco Purge material and microplastic contaminants.
- •While currently a proof of concept, the invention aims to tackle existing environmental pollution that traditional recycling alone cannot solve.
Key Questions Answered
Eco Purge is a plant-based, biodegradable plastic developed by 18-year-old Arya Satheesh that is designed to release specialized enzymes to help break down existing PET-derived microplastics in environments like soil and water.
Arya Satheesh won the European regional category of The Earth Prize 2026, receiving $12,500 to support the further development of her prototype.
She placed measured quantities of microplastics alongside Eco Purge samples in soil, salt water, and fresh water, monitoring them over six weeks to observe degradation.
