Optimist Daily: Researchers build a hemp plastic that rivals PET

PET is in water bottles, food packaging, and flexible electronics. It’s made from fossil fuels, breaks down into microplastics, and carries chemicals linked to inflammation and cell damage. Researchers have been trying to replace it for years. Most bio-based alternatives couldn’t handle heat or stretching at an industrial scale. A team from the University of Connecticut and Purdue University has now built one that can. Their material is a polycarbonate derived from cannabidiol (CBD), the main compound in hemp flowers. It stretches to 1,600 percent of its original size. It stays hard and dry when submerged in boiling water. It can be melted and reshaped using existing manufacturing equipment. Read ON.