Scientists create eco-friendly plastic from plants and captured CO2

Scientists at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering have developed an innovative, eco-friendly polyurethane made from lignin—a natural polymer found in plant cell walls—and captured carbon dioxide. This new plant-based plastic maintains the strength, heat resistance, and flexibility typical of conventional polyurethane but avoids the use of toxic isocyanates, hazardous chemicals traditionally required in polyurethane production. The process uses fewer steps, consumes less energy, and produces a biodegradable material from renewable resources, offering significant environmental and health benefits. The resulting lignin-based polyurethane is also easier to process, dissolving readily in solvents, which enhances its scalability and commercial viability compared to other biomass-derived plastics. This advancement builds on previous work by the team exploring lignin’s potential in sustainable polymers, expanding its application from polycarbonate to the more widely used polyurethane. Supported by Florida State University’s resources and funding from the U.S. Army Research Office and South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, the research represents a promising step toward greener manufacturing