Plastics are a major problem: They persist in the environment, recycling them is expensive, and worst of all, they are made from petroleum—meaning when they are burned or decompose in landfills, they produce greenhouse gases. But there is hope on the horizon! Scientists are busy tackling these issues, and a laboratory at UC Davis has developed a technology that makes it possible for recyclable plastics to be produced from plant biomass (agricultural waste, forestry waste, municipal waste). Learn more about these plastics, which are indistinguishable from their petrochemical equivalents and are “net-zero carbon.” This means that they only give off as much carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) as they took from the plants, thus creating a natural cycle. The technology was the recipient of a 2022 EPA Green Chemistry Challenge Award.