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Degradable plastics

A new CAMMP-ing ground for polymers

Nature Synthesis volume 1, pages 917–918 (2022)Cite this article

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A polymerization strategy — termed CAMMP — combines two types of olefin metathesis monomers to produce degradable copolymers without sacrificing the mechanical properties of the equivalent homopolymer.

Synthetic elastomers, thermosets, and thermoplastics are lightweight and robust materials used in wide-ranging applications in our everyday lives. As a result, these materials are produced on a large scale worldwide. It is estimated that since 2015, 6,300 metric tons of plastic waste have been produced, with only 9% recycled, while most of the waste (79%) has accumulated in landfill sites or the environment1. This plastic waste problem makes it paramount that research efforts investigate new strategies for recycling or degrading plastics, or search for alternative end-of-life treatments for plastic waste. Current mechanical recycling strategies are often not economically viable, owing to a depreciation in value of the plastic and the loss of useful mechanical properties upon recycling2. Some examples of alternatives to mechanical recycling include polymers with enhanced (bio)degradability, the upcycling of polymers to higher value products, or the reversal of their synthesis in a process termed ‘chemical recycling to monomer’3,4,5.

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Fig. 1: Cyclic–acyclic monomers metathesis polymerization (CAMMP) to incorporate degradable segments within traditionally persistent polyolefins.

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  1. Twitter: @KennemurFSU; @FSU_Polymurs

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Courtney M. Leo & Justin G. Kennemur

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  1. Courtney M. Leo
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  2. Justin G. Kennemur
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Correspondence to Justin G. Kennemur.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Leo, C.M., Kennemur, J.G. A new CAMMP-ing ground for polymers. Nat. Synth 1, 917–918 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-022-00198-y

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