C&EN highlights CEMS research on improving compostable plastics
Graduate student Kathryn Medrow (left) and postdoctoral researcher Jinsol Yook
Graduate student Kathryn Medrow (left) and postdoctoral researcher Jinsol Yook, the ACS Central Science paper’s first author, examine a sample of degrading polylactic acid (PLA). Credit: Daun Jeong

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/01/2026) — A new feature in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) highlights research from CEMS Professor Chris Ellison and University of Minnesota chemistry professor Marc Hillmyer that could make one of the world's most widely used biodegradable plastics more suitable for home composting.

The article explores how the research team incorporated small amounts of what they describe as a "masked acid" into polylactide (PLA), a biodegradable plastic commonly used in compostable cups, cutlery, and tableware. The additive speeds up PLA breakdown and lowers the temperature needed for the material to degrade, potentially making PLA suitable for home composting while offering a simple approach to addressing one of the material's biggest limitations.

Read the full C&EN article to learn more about the research and its potential impact on the future of sustainable plastics.

Learn more about the Ellison Group’s research at their group website.

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