18-Year-Old Student Develops Biodegradable Plastic Designed to Break Down Microplastics in Soil and Water
Learn about the European winner of The Earth Prize 2026, Arya Satheesh, and her vision to remove microplastics from the environment with enzymes.
In a world overwhelmed by microplastics, one 18-year-old student from Ireland has developed a biodegradable plastic called Eco Purge, which has the unique ability to break down other microplastics. Arya Satheesh, the inventor, was recently named the European winner of The Earth Prize, the largest environmental competition for youths aged 13 to 19.
Her innovative solution, designed to replace regular plastic and remove existing microplastics, holds the potential to become a scalable and impactful answer to the global microplastic crisis. Satheesh's groundbreaking invention was inspired by an earlier project that monitored water quality, leading her to develop a plant-based plastic capable of carrying enzymes that release as the plastic degrades.
These enzymes can then trigger other microplastics to degrade in various environments such as soil, fresh water, and salt water. With the support of a $12,500 award from The Earth Prize, Satheesh and her team are working towards integrating Eco Purge into everyday products like packaging and compost bags, offering a glimmer of hope in the fight against microplastics.
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