Scientists find way to turn plastic waste into carbon capture materials

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🗞️ Driving the news: Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — one of the world’s most common plastics — into a new carbon capture material called BAETA
• The breakthrough addresses two global challenges simultaneously: reducing plastic pollution and cutting greenhouse gas emissions
• BAETA can absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere and industrial smokestacks, then release it in concentrated form for storage or reuse

🔭 The context: PET, used widely in bottles, textiles, and packaging, is a leading source of microplastic pollution
• Traditional carbon capture systems are energy-intensive and costly, slowing large-scale adoption
• BAETA, however, functions at ambient temperatures, tolerates heat up to 150°C, and can be made from degraded plastics that are otherwise unrecyclable
• Published in Science Advances, the research highlights how waste can be “upcycled” into climate solutions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: By turning waste plastic into CO₂-absorbing materials, BAETA offers a circular approach that could both incentivize cleanup and reduce emissions
• Its potential for direct use in heavy industry makes it relevant to hard-to-abate sectors
• If successfully scaled, the technology could strengthen global carbon management strategies while easing reliance on virgin raw materials
• The challenge remains in securing investment and achieving cost-effective industrial production

⏭️ What's next: The research team is seeking financing to expand BAETA from lab-scale to industrial volumes
• Initial applications are expected in smokestack filtration, with future integration possible across broader carbon management systems
• Commercial success could create new markets for carbon-negative materials while simultaneously driving marine plastic cleanup

💬 One quote: “By turning waste into a raw material that can actively reduce greenhouse gases, we make an environmental issue part of the solution to the climate crisis,” said lead author Margarita Poderyte.

📈 One stat: PET production exceeds 82 million tonnes annually, much of which is unrecycled and contributes to growing plastic pollution

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