Since I have been studying Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology at Guru Nanak College, my view of plastic has changed entirely. Whenever you go to any beach in Chennai, the problem of coastal microplastic pollution is something you can see right away. It's easy to just conclude at that point that "plastic is evil". However, when you look at the material more closely, you find that the development of plastic represented a huge advancement for society because it is lightweight, extremely durable, and in fact it is the only reason why medical equipment can be kept completely sterile. The issue isn't with plastic as a concept; it's the fact that we have been producing it from fossil fuels and then expecting the Earth to somehow break it down.

The first step in creating a positive image of plastic is to alter its DNA. There is no need to ban plastic—what we need is to evolve it. That is precisely the area that my colleagues and I have been studying in the laboratory. Rather than depend on petrochemicals, we are seeking solutions in the ocean and in agriculture. To be more specific, we have been working on producing bioplastic films by using waste from crustacean shells, this waste being rich in a natural polymer known as chitin, and mixing it with starch obtained from the peels of common bananas.

At the beginning of research of this type it has a certain sci-fi atmosphere, but it is in fact possible to produce a durable film from shrimp shells and fruit waste that works exactly like ordinary plastic. This is what the future of such materials will be. By making use of environmentally friendly biomaterials we are establishing a real circular economy; we take waste which would otherwise just rot or be dumped and turn it into something very useful. The best thing about bioplastic made from chitin and banana starch is that when it has reached the end of its life it does not break down into toxic microplastics which poison our marine ecosystems. Instead it naturally decomposes back into the environment.

To have a favourable image of plastic in society is to see it as a temporary technology; the fossil-fuel plastics of earlier times represented merely the first stage, phase two being biofabrication. Since industry events such as Plastivision 2027 are approaching, our effort should not be limited to recycling the existing plastics but should instead involve promoting the new, bio-based ones.

We have biotechnology that will allow us to obtain all the wonderful, life-saving advantages of plastic without having to feel guilty about the environment. If we combine zoology with polymer science, we can create a sustainable future in which plastic is viewed as an eco-friendly tool rather than as a persistent pollutant.