Scientists made cookies from upcycled plastic as part of a NASA-funded project aimed at feeding astronauts on future space missions.
The technology utilised specially designed yeasts to transform plastics and agricultural waste into edible proteins, fats, and flavourings. The researchers then passed the slurry into a 3D printer to create disc-shaped cookies.
The project leader, Dr Lahiru Jayakody, a microbiologist at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said, “My lab works on developing technologies for plastic upcycling. We thought, why not look into food? Plastic is carbon and food is carbon.”
The team has not received official approval for cookies’ taste test. Jayakody said: “We haven’t eaten them yet because we’re awaiting approval for testing in humans.”
The technique has been supported through funding by the Deep Space Food Challenge from NASA, which encourages scientists to come up with innovative ways of solving the challenge of feeding astronauts during their long missions.
The scientists used polyethylene terephthalate, a common material used in disposable water bottles, and “digested” it using a process that involves water and oxygen under high pressure and temperature. The products formed from the process were fed to genetically reengineered yeast, which then turned the carbon into biological compounds, such as protein and fat.
At the moment, the cookies cost $60 per kilogram to produce, but more efficient yeasts will bring down the price in the future.
Nutritional facts of 3D-printed plastic-derived cookies
- Proteins: Produced by genetically engineered yeast that convert plastic-derived carbon into biological proteins
- Fats: Synthesised by yeast during the conversion process
- Flavourings: A different yeast strain produces vanilla flavouring from plant biomass
- Starch: Added to the yeast slurry to provide structure and shape
The team explains that this concept will be highly useful to survive in extreme environments on Earth, such as submarines or disaster zones.
2026-08-24 18:15:00
