When Plants Eat Plastic – Enzymes, Evolution, and the Future of Recycling

aus Wissen schafft Macht. Macht aber nix. Oder? WISM²ANO Ein Podcast der BioteXpert*innen · 28.11.2025 · 43 Min.

Beschreibung

Carnivorous plants don’t just eat insects — their digestive enzymes can also break down plastics like PET. In this episode, researcher Felice Quartinello (BOKU & acib) explains how his team discovered plastic-degrading activity in pitcher plant fluids, why plant proteases like nepenthesin are so surprising, and how enzymes could reshape the future of recycling. We explore the science behind “plants that eat plastic,” the challenges ahead, and what this discovery means for a more sustainable, circular future.