Can We Make Plastics Sustainable?

Plastics are a vital part of our lives, but they also are rife with adverse environmental impacts. In “Can We Make Plastics Sustainable?”, the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment and the Center for Sustainable Polymers explore how we can enjoy the benefits of plastics and keep our planet healthy, too.

The Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) integrates research, education, and public outreach initiatives that focus on sustainability issues surrounding the science and technology of polymeric materials. Members of the center concentrate their research efforts on harnessing the renewable, functional, degradable and non-toxic ingredients provided by Nature for tomorrow’s advanced plastics, foams, adhesives, elastomers, coatings and other macromolecular materials. To foster innovation the CSP partners with numerous companies that develop, implement, advance technologies in the sustainable polymer industry. In addition to the research mission of the CSP, members also foster outreach activities to educate future scientists and the public about the science and technology of sustainability.