Some candy talking: Could plastic made from sugar be round the corner?

It seems that DowDuPont Specialty Products Division might be about to bring us plastic with a difference – it’s derived from sugar.

According to Delawareonline, scientists at the company have come up with a process to create a ‘spaghetti-like molecular chain’ that can be formed into plastic products.

One of the scientists involved is Paul J. Fagan, was recently named as a DowDuPont Specialty Products Names 2017 Pedersen Award Medalist. Fagan has been recognised for his technical leadership in the application of chemistry to the development of renewably sourced materials. He has made significant technical contributions, leading numerous important projects such as the production of sustainable polymers and the conversion of sugars to bio-based products.

Speaking to Delawareonline, Fagan said: “A lot of our customers and, we ourselves, would like to get away from using oil to make things. We’re not only trying to make things sustainable but also... recyclable at the same time, that’s the advantage of the particular class of polymers I’m working on now."

The newspaper says Fagan’s aim for a “100 percent sugar-based plastic puts the company in direct competition with several startups and mid-size firms – all wanting to be first to disrupt the half-trillion dollar global plastics business.”