As they become more widely produced, biodegradable plastics will replace synthetic polymers, Angel Romo, researcher at the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM), told Tierramérica. “The trend is growing and rapidly expanding. Interest at the industrial level is huge. We are talking about something irreversible, because petroleum is going to run out,” he said.

Romo is leading research into these alternatives based on maize and natural sugars that can compete with conventional plastics – and break down within a few months of disposal.

The expert founded the Laboratory of Nanopolymers and Colloids here in 2006, after living 15 years in the United States.

The initial plan calls for a three-year experimental period “in order to develop prototypes, define the chemistry of the processes and have a clear idea of their properties,” with sights set on mass production in the future.