Sofia Martinez
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. The average plastic cup takes 50 years to biodegrade, with straws taking 200 years, and plastic bottles taking 450 years. This has led to plastic waste filling landfills, streets, beaches, rivers, and oceans, causing harm to animals and humans alike. Sharon Barak, an Israeli chemical engineer, has invented a biodegradable plastic that looks and functions like regular plastic but dissolves in water in a matter of minutes, leaving no harmful impact on nature. Barak's invention has the potential to revolutionize the way we use plastic and significantly reduce plastic pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Sharon Barak |
| Occupation | Chemical Engineer, CTO of Solutum |
| Country | Israel |
| Invention | Biodegradable plastic |
| Plastic substitute | Looks and feels like plastic, performs like plastic |
| Eco-friendly | Yes |
| Ease of production | Easy |
| Ease of use | Easy |
| Ease of disposal | Easy |
| Safety | Safe for humans and animals |
| Solves | Plastic pollution |
| Impact | Reduces plastic decay from centuries to minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Sharon Barak's biodegradable plastic
Sharon Barak, an Israeli chemical engineer, is the inventor of a biodegradable plastic that dissolves in water. Working in the research and development department of a plastic company, she became aware of the benefits of plastic but also of the fact that people "don't use it responsibly". She observed that half of all plastic is used only once and that despite recycling efforts, only 9% of all plastics get recycled. This led her to research how biodegradable materials decompose in nature.
Barak is the chief technology officer and founder of the cleantech startup Solutum, which develops biodegradable products to tackle plastic pollution. Solutum's plastic alternative, AD204, looks and performs like plastic but is made from eco-friendly materials that easily dissolve in water. The product is safe enough to drink even after the plastic substitute has liquified, and it does not require an elaborate process for recycling.
Barak and her team of chemical engineers spent a lot of time mixing different components until they found the right formula. She has said that she knew "the planet wasn’t heading in the right direction" and that "everyone knows about the problem of plastic". As a mother, she felt that the issue of plastic pollution had become even more important and real to her. She now asks herself, "What is their [her children's] life going to be like?".
Solutum's products can be processed using regular plastic machinery, reducing costs and meeting manufacturers' requirements. The company has raised $11.5 million from investors and is now raising another round of funding for its biodegradable invention. Barak hopes that Solutum's products can replace plastic, which is polluting the environment and causing harm to nature and human health.
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The impact of plastic pollution
Sharon Barak, a chemical engineer from Israel and the CEO of Solutum, invented a new kind of biodegradable plastic that dissolves in water. Barak's invention addresses the pressing issue of plastic pollution, which has severe environmental and health impacts.
Plastic pollution is a significant global concern, with billions of pounds of plastic ending up in the world's oceans every year. This pollution has far-reaching consequences for marine life, with thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals killed annually due to plastic ingestion or entanglement. The issue is so pervasive that not a single square mile of surface ocean on Earth is free from plastic pollution. Plastic pollution also affects human health, as the chemicals in plastic are endocrine disruptors and can cause hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, and even cancer.
The production and disposal of single-use plastics, which make up half of all plastic produced, contribute to climate change. The extraction and transportation of fossil fuels used in plastic production emit vast amounts of greenhouse gases, and the removal of forested land for oil extraction further exacerbates carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the process of recycling plastic creates more pollution, underscoring the importance of biodegradable alternatives like Barak's invention.
Barak's biodegradable plastic, made from 100% eco-friendly materials, can be used for food wrapping, bottle manufacturing, and any other purpose that regular plastic is used for. It dissolves harmlessly in water within minutes, posing no threat to marine life. Barak's invention offers a promising solution to the pressing issue of plastic pollution, reducing the time for plastic decay from centuries to just minutes.
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Solving the plastic problem
Plastic pollution is one of the worst pollutant problems in the world. Plastic waste fills garbage dumps, slums, city streets, beaches, rivers, and oceans, harming animals, birds, and even humans. The average time for plastic to biodegrade is 50 years for plastic cups, 200 years for straws, and 450 years for plastic bottles. This means that plastic waste can stay in nature for hundreds of years, with plastic bags taking between 20 to 1000 years to break up into smaller pieces.
Sharon Barak, a chemical engineer from Israel, has invented a new kind of plastic that biodegrades in water, tackling the issue of plastic pollution. Barak's invention, Solutum, is a cleantech startup that has developed a new, eco-friendly compound that looks, feels, and functions like plastic but is 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly. The product is easy to use and produce, and manufacturers can use their existing equipment to create it, reducing costs and meeting manufacturers' requirements.
Solutum's plastic alternative can be used for anything that plastic is traditionally used for, including packaging, food coverings, and bottles. It dissolves into nothing within minutes and the solution is safe enough for humans to drink. This means that if a bag made of Solutum accidentally gets into the ocean, it will become a part of it in just a few minutes, posing no threat to marine animals, unlike ordinary plastic.
Barak's motivation for creating Solutum came from her time working as a chemical engineer in the research and development department at a plastic company, where she became aware of the benefits of plastic but also saw that people "don't use it responsibly." She noted that half of all plastic is used only once and that despite recycling efforts, only 9% of all plastics are recycled, with the process of recycling creating more pollution. As a mother, Barak also wanted to create a better world for her children, asking herself, "What is their life going to be like?"
Solutum's biodegradable plastic is a significant step towards solving the plastic problem and creating a more sustainable and cleaner environment.
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Solutum's plastic alternative
Solutum Technologies Ltd. is an Israeli startup that has developed an innovative plastic solution. The company was founded by Sharon Barak, who serves as its CEO and CTO. With a background in chemical engineering, Barak was motivated by the issue of plastic pollution and the fact that only 9% of plastics are recycled. She set out to create a product that would look, feel, and function like plastic but dissolve harmlessly in water.
The company has raised $11.5 million in funding and has received orders from large international companies like Colgate. Solutum plans to begin production and sales operations in the United States soon, using existing factories. One of the challenges Barak foresees is the need for biodegradable ink to accompany their plastic alternative, so that when a plastic bag decomposes, the ink used for branding also disappears.
Solutum's innovation comes at a critical time, with millions of tons of plastic polluting the Earth and the oceans. The company's technology has the potential to significantly reduce plastic waste and contribute to a cleaner and safer environment. Barak's invention offers a promising solution to the global problem of plastic pollution and its harmful impact on nature.
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Barak's motivation to find a solution
Sharon Barak, an Israeli mother of two, is the brains behind Solutum, a cleantech startup that targets plastic pollution. Barak, a chemical engineer, has invented a biodegradable alternative to plastic that looks and feels like plastic but is made of 100% eco-friendly materials.
Barak's personal initiative to solve the plastic problem began when she quit her job at a plastic company. She noticed the benefits of plastic but also witnessed the irresponsible use and mismanagement of this material. She observed that half of all plastic is used only once, and despite global recycling efforts, only 9% of plastics are recycled. The remaining 91% of unrecycled plastic contributes to pollution, with plastic bags taking anywhere from 20 to 1000 years to break down, releasing microplastics into the environment.
Barak wanted to solve the end-of-life problem for plastic by creating a biodegradable alternative. She and her team of chemical engineers spent significant time experimenting with different components until they found the right formula. Their invention, Solutum, can be used for anything that plastic has traditionally been used for, including packaging, food coverings, and bottles. By using existing plastic machinery for production, Solutum also reduces costs and meets manufacturers' requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Sharon Barak, an Israeli chemical engineer, invented a form of biodegradable plastic.
Sharon Barak's biodegradable plastic is called AD204. It is produced by her company, Solutum.
Barak was inspired to invent biodegradable plastic after working in the research and development department of a plastic company. She saw the benefits of plastic but also that people "don't use it responsibly". She was also motivated by the fact that only 9% of plastic is recycled.
Sharon Barak's plastic is an eco-friendly compound that looks and performs like plastic but is 100% biodegradable in water. It can be used for anything that plastic is traditionally used for, including food wrapping and bottle manufacturing.
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