‘It comes from bacteria, and goes back to bacteria’: the future of plastic alternatives

Making a biodegradable material strong enough to replace plastic is a tough task. But scientists are trying to do just that

When people think about plastic waste, they often think of the packaging that swaddles supermarket fruits and vegetables - shiny layers that are stripped away and thrown in the bin as soon as the produce is unloaded at home.

It's a wasteful cycle that California-based company Apeel says it can help end. The firm has developed an edible, tasteless and invisible plant-based spray for fruits and vegetables that works as a barrier to keep oxygen out and moisture in, increasing shelf life without the need for single-use plastic.