Japanese Scientists Create Biodegradable, Transparent Paper from Plant Biomass; Potential Plastic Alternative Could Reduce Ocean Pollution

Japanese Researchers Develop ‘Transparent Paper’ as Alternative to Plastics; New Material Is Biodegradable, Can Be Produced with Low Carbon Emissions

Photos courtesy of JAMSTECScenery 100 meters away is seen through a sheet of transparent paper which is 0.7 millimeters thick. 14:47 JST, June 5, 2025 A team of researchers with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and other entities have developed thick sheets of transparent paper using cellulose, a material made from plant biomass. The transparent paper sheets can be broken down by microbes into water and carbon dioxide. Also, they can be used to make containers b...