Topic tracked by 311 Institute
The future of Plastics
- 24articles
- 2018first covered
- 11 Sep 2025latest update
- 4linked technologies
What is Plastics?
What is Plastics doing to bring the future to life?
Bringing the future to life
How Plastics is shaping what comes next
Latest developments
What Plastics did next
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The technologies Plastics is working on
Emerging technologies most often reported alongside Plastics, with when each is expected to reach the mainstream.
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Every article
All 24 articles on Plastics
- Japanese scientists develop plastics that dissolve in seawaterIndustry and manufacturing
- This new molecular hard drive stores information in plasticComputing
- Welded Loops show off shoes made from a single Mono-MaterialIndustry and manufacturing
- A ChatGPT clone can now design whole genomes from scratchBiotech and enhanced humans
- New report highlights 128 research fronts that China wants to dominateOpinion
- Chinese scientists store data in the world’s first unhackable 3D printed materialSecurity and privacy
- Google’s DeepMind AI just invented 380,000 new compoundsIndustry and manufacturing
- Nescafé’s new 3D printed biodegradable pop up store embraces regenerative architectureIndustry and manufacturing
- These bacteria eat plastic waste and turn it into useful productsIndustry and manufacturing
- New recycling method flashes waste into graphene and free hydrogen fuelEarth and energy
- Cali’s first river interceptor prevents trash from ever reaching the oceansEarth and energy
- These new plastic batteries could make low cost grid scale storage possibleEarth and energy
- An AI just invented a new enzyme that breaks down plastics in weeksIndustry and manufacturing
- Ocean Cleanup ships could be powered with the plastic they recover from the oceanEarth and energy
- Ship based reactor could convert ocean based plastic into diesel fuelEarth and energy
- Bacteria manage to recycle plastic into vanilla flavouring in weird world firstEarth and energy
- David Attenborough backs new technology that can recycle all plasticsEarth and energy
- Scientists breakthrough turns common garbage into miracle material GrapheneIndustry and manufacturing
- Scientists develop the world’s first infinitely recyclable plasticIndustry and manufacturing
- Artificial Photosynthesis breakthrough turns Carbon Dioxide into plasticIndustry and manufacturing
- The project to rid the world’s oceans of plastic has begunEarth and energy
- Scientists make biodegradable plastic from sugar and carbon dioxideIndustry and manufacturing
- Biodegradable plastics made from “Tree glue” could hit the shelves in five yearsIndustry and manufacturing
- One in a billion enzyme that breaks down plastic found in Japanese dumpEarth and energy
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Also in the Plastics story
Answers
FAQ
How many articles has 311 Institute published about Plastics?
311 Institute has published 24 articles about Plastics since 2018, most recently on 11 September 2025.
Can 311 Institute brief my board on the future of Plastics?
Yes. Matthew Griffin and 311 Institute run private briefings, workshops and keynotes on what Plastics is doing next and what it means for your organisation. Use the briefing form on this page and Matthew will reply quickly.
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