Imagine eating a cookie made from discarded plastic water bottles. It sounds like science fiction, but researchers have successfully created edible vanilla-flavored cookies using upcycled plastic and agricultural waste.
Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, led by Dr. Lahiru Jayakody and Sandhya Jayasekara, developed the process. It starts by taking plastic bottles made of PET and sweetcorn plant stalks. Using heat, water, and oxygen under high pressure—a process called oxidative hydrothermal dissolution—the tough waste materials break down into smaller molecules.
Next, these molecules are fed to yeast that has been genetically altered using CRISPR gene-editing technology. The special yeast digests the plastic components and turns them into useful biological ingredients, including proteins, fats, essential nutrients, and vanilla flavoring. Starch, sweetener, and fiber are then added to the mix, which is shaped by a 3D printer into small disc-shaped cookies named "µBites" (microbites).
The project was funded as part of NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge. NASA wants to find new ways to feed astronauts on long voyages, such as a three-year round trip to Mars, where crew members must reuse every available resource. Beyond space missions, scientists believe the technology could help supply food in extreme environments on Earth, such as submarines or disaster zones.
The research team is currently waiting for official institutional approval to taste test the cookies on humans. Although they have not tried eating them yet, the team reports that the cookies have a pleasant vanilla aroma that smells just like a real cookie. Production currently costs about $60 per kilogram, though researchers expect to lower the price as they improve efficiency.
However, not all experts agree that plastic cookies are a practical solution for global waste. Jason Hallett, a professor at Imperial College London, pointed out that the world produces 400 million tons of plastic waste every year. He argued that turning plastic into food cannot solve the global pollution crisis on a commercial scale. Public concerns over eating plastic-derived products and genetically engineered foods may also limit their popularity. Nevertheless, the researchers hope their work inspires new, creative approaches to recycling waste.