The new process converts sugar to plastic using carbon dioxide gas. Image credit: Georgina GregoryScientists from the Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies at the University of Bath have discovered a sweet alternative to crude oil manufactured plastics: sugar and carbon dioxide.

The manufacturing of drink bottles, glass lenses and scratch-resistant coatings for phones currently calls for polycarbonate—manufactured with BPA (banned from baby bottle manufacturing) and phosgene, which is highly toxic and was used as a chemical weapon during World War I.

The sugar and carbon dioxide polycarbonate alternative, according to the research, will allow for a safer and less expensive production process. Additionally, the alternative polycarbonate can biodegrade—using enzymes from soil bacteria—back into carbon dioxide and sugar.

Dr. Antoine Buchard, Whorrod Research Fellow in the University's Department of Chemistry, said: "With an ever-growing population, there is an increasing demand for plastics. This new plastic is a renewable alternative to fossil-fuel based polymers, potentially inexpensive, and, because it is biodegradable, will not contribute to growing ocean and landfill waste."

"Our process uses carbon dioxide instead of the highly toxic chemical phosgene, and produces a plastic that is free from BPA, so not only is the plastic safer, but the manufacture process is cleaner too."

Researchers believe that the new bio-compatible plastic, which is similar to the polycarbonate plastic in strength, transparency and scratch resistance, can also be used in the future for medical implants or as scaffolds in creating replacement transplant organs.

The study is published in the journals Polymer Chemistry and Macromolecules.