South Korean scientists have developed a material that can change the way we deal with ocean pollution from synthetic textiles and fishing gear.
This new polymer has been reduced by more than 92% in the marine environment in just one year while maintaining the strength comparable to conventional nylon. Detailed in Advanced Materials released in March 2025, the innovation provides a real solution to the ongoing plastic waste problem in our oceans without damaging performance or requiring a completely new manufacturing infrastructure.
Solve the dilemma of marine plastics
Nylon-based products such as clothing and fishing nets are notorious contributors to marine pollution and have been in the marine environment for decades. Despite biodegradable alternatives, they often suffer from poor durability and heat resistance, which is not practical for many real-world applications.
A research team at the Korean Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), led by Dr. Hyun-Yeol Jeon and Dr. Hyo-Jeong Kim, created a polyesteramide (PEA) polymer that addresses these limitations. Their innovation combines the biodegradability of ester linkages with the biodegradability of strong amide bonds found in nylon.
“The key achievement is that this material overcomes the limitations of traditional biodegradable plastics while providing nylon-grade performance,” explained Dr. Sungbae Park, senior researcher and co-first author of the study.
Power to achieve sustainability
What makes this polymer unique is not only its biodegradability, but also its impressive mechanical properties. The material can match the properties of traditional nylon and in some tests it can match:
- Tensile strength up to 110 MPa, exceeding nylon 6 and PET
- Single fiber chain, able to lift 10 kg of objects without rupture
- Heat resistance allows fabrics to withstand ironing at 150°C
- Ocean degradation was 92.1% in one year (0.1% with PLA, 35.9% with PBS, and 21.1% with PBAT)
- Carbon footprint is only one-third of traditional nylon production
The balance of performance and environmental benefits makes the polymer suitable for applications that are not competitive with existing biodegradable materials, including fishing nets, clothing and food packaging.
Manufacturing innovation
A key breakthrough in this study was the development of a two-step melting polymerization process that eliminates the need for toxic organic solvents traditionally needed for this material. This makes the production process safer and more environmentally friendly.
Perhaps most importantly, for commercial adoption, the process is compatible with existing polyester manufacturing facilities. With only minor modifications, current industrial infrastructure can begin to produce such biodegradable alternatives, a major obstacle to widespread implementation.
The team has demonstrated industrial-scale production up to 4 kg in a 10-liter reactor, suggesting that the material is ready for larger commercial applications.
Upgrade method reduces carbon impact
In addition to performance and degradability, the researchers also incorporate sustainability into the basis of their polymers. They synthesized the material using long-chain dicarboxylic acid derived from castor oil, a crop that does not compete with food production, as well as the caprolactam derivatives recovered from the recycled nylon 6 waste.
This upgrade method greatly reduces the carbon footprint of the material, from 8-11 kgco₂eq/kg of traditional nylon to 2.3–2.6 kgco₂eq/kg of new polymers.
Krict President Young-Kuk Lee stressed the broader significance of this work: “This technology marks a critical step towards the commercialization of biodegradable engineered plastics and will make a significant contribution to addressing the global marine plastic pollution crisis.”
From the laboratory to the ocean
Real-world testing has always been a priority for the research team. Marine biodegradability tests were conducted along the Korean wave coast, demonstrating the performance of the material under actual marine conditions, not just laboratory simulations.
Can this material ultimately provide practical solutions to the ongoing problems of synthetic fishing gear and textile waste in our oceans? With commercialization expected within two years, we may soon find out.
With increasing awareness of microplastic pollution in textiles and waste fishing gear, innovation is still at a critical moment, continuing to drive the need for truly biodegradable alternatives that do not sacrifice performance.
The research team also includes Professor Dong-Yeop of Inha University and Professor Je-Young Park of Sogang University, supported by the Krict Fund for Basic Research, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
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