The harmful environmental effects of plastics are well-documented by now,
but the material is so integrated into the way we live our lives that it would be difficult if not impossible to simply stop using them altogether.
Instead, scientists are looking for non-petroleum-based alternatives that could make plastics biodegradable and safer overall for the planet.
One of the latest alternatives comes from a research team at the University of South Carolina. They have been altering the natural resins from conifer trees through polymerization to create planet-friendly, sustainable plastics.