- Scientists created 3D-printed cookies from recycled plastic for space missions
- Plastic is chemically broken down and converted by microbes into edible biomass
- The biomass paste is shaped by 3D printing and baked into familiar snack forms
Would you ever eat cookies made of plastic? Many would say no, thinking it's a joke, but scientists and food researchers have actually succeeded in turning plastic trash into 3D-printed snacks, starting with cookies, as they explore a controversial yet innovative solution to tackle the food sustainability issue for space exploration, The Guardian reported. The 3D-printed cookie is part of a NASA-funded project, which aims at feeding astronauts on future space missions.
How does plastic become food?
Eating plastic directly is toxic, so the process relies on advanced bio-recycling techniques to break down and transform the material completely before it reaches a plate.
The scientists said that one of the most common forms of plastic is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a material often used to make single-use products, such as soda and water bottles.
To transform the product, the researchers put PET plastic, discarded corn plant stalks and leaves, and other biomass through an oxidative hydrothermal dissolution. In this process, scientists use water and oxygen at high temperature and pressure to break down tough material into microbe-accessible pieces.
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In the next step, specialised bacteria or yeast strains are introduced to the broken-down plastic compounds. These engineered microbes "eat" the plastic byproduct and convert it into safe, nutrient-dense biomass packed with proteins, fats, and essential sugars.
The paste is then refined, flavoured, and fed into a 3D food printer, which extrudes the paste layer by layer, shaping it into familiar snack forms like cookies before it is baked or cured into a solid treat.
"My lab works on developing technologies for plastic upcycling," Dr Lahiru Jayakody, who is a microbiologist at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said as quoted by the media outlet. "We thought, why not look into food? Plastic is carbon and food is carbon." Jayakody led this innovative project.
According to the report, the team of scientists haven't yet received institutional sign-off to taste the cookies. However, they "receive high marks on aroma".
Ahead of a presentation of the work on Monday at the meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago, Jayakody reportedly said, "We haven't eaten them yet because we're awaiting approval for testing in humans."
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Why target astronauts?
While the idea of plastic-based cookies might be a tough sell on Earth, it holds massive potential for long-term space missions, such as deep-space travel or future Mars habitats.
"When an astronaut goes to Mars, they have to survive in extreme conditions. The round-trip is three years. You have to use everything you have," said Jayakody.
Such innovations suggest that astronauts can repurpose plastic packaging, equipment wrapping, and unused gear directly into something edible.
Not just space, the scientist suggests that such food items can be useful in extreme environments on Earth, including on submarines or in disaster zones.
"Global food demand is expected to rise 35% to 56% by the year 2050, and about 30% of the world population will be at risk of hunger in the future. The way to address that, I believe, is by using microbes," said Jayakody.
As per the report, the cookies currently cost $60 a kilogram to produce.
