These Cookies Started As Plastic Bottles
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Making edible cookies may be the last thing that comes to mind when we think of ways to recycle plastic. But that is exactly what researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale have developed with support from NASA. Dubbed µBites (pronounced "micro-bites"), the project demonstrates how common plastic can be transformed into nutritious food using bioengineering.
How it works
For their project, the researchers chose PET plastic. It is commonly used to make water bottles and other single-use products. PET contains carbon, an element that is also found in the foods we eat. Dr. Jayakody and his team wondered if they could break down the carbon in the plastic and turn it into useful nutrients.
"My lab works on developing technologies for plastic upcycling," Dr. Jayakody explained. "We thought, why not look into food? Plastic is carbon and food is carbon."
The team began by mixing clear plastic water bottles with plant waste, such as corn stalks. The mixture was then heated under intense pressure using only water and oxygen. This process broke the plastic and plant material into smaller molecules. These molecules dissolved in water, creating a liquid rich in carbon.
The liquid was then poured into tanks containing genetically modified yeast. The yeast used carbon from the plastic and nutrients from the plant waste to grow. As the yeast grew, it produced food ingredients, including proteins and fats, inside its cells. Finally, these nutrient-rich yeast cells were blended with starch, fiber, and a little sugar to make a thick, dough-like paste.
The team then fed the paste into a 3D printer, which squeezed it into small shapes resembling the Greek letter µ (mu). A quick zap in the microwave baked them into firm cookies. The cookies smelled surprisingly good. Lab tests also showed they were safe to eat. However, the team is waiting on official university approval before trying them.
The researchers presented their findings at the ACS Fall Science Conference on August 24, 2026. The cookies were developed as part of NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge. Astronauts heading on long missions to Mars cannot carry years of food supplies, but they will end up with plenty of trash. By turning plastic waste into food, they could become more self-sufficient during the journey.
The cookies could also help address food shortages on Earth. However, the production process still needs to be improved and the cost lowered before they can become widely available. More importantly, the public will need to be convinced that the plastic-derived snack is safe to eat.
Resources: Cnet.com, Theguardian.com, Acs.org
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64 Comments
tametopphone14 daysWhat!? Life always surprises me!❗❗❗❗
lohotavaceri14 dayslowkey wild
zocekalugeda14 daysFun fact did you know that you eat a credit card of micro plastics in food a month,which is crazy because we don't even know, and it doesn't hurt us.
winniewooo14 daysYummy plastic cookies😊- zocekalugeda14 daysIt's worth it to out of school
- vitofadycini14 daysPlastic in to a cookie? That sound gross, and not edible.
- refygaguriva12 daysit says its edible in the article
- ianc89914 daysPlastic into foods?! This is unbelievable! First to comment!
voidwalker1415 daysThey may have made it edible and that's really cool but... your still eating PLASTIC!- 3000302012 daysno you're eating dough with a small about of carbon in it and carbon is used in many foods and that carbon just so happened to be separated from plastic so there's no plastic in there
tdunneback202815 dayswow that's awesome I did not know you could turn plastic into cookies.- kingcorbin12 daysIt will give you canser
jesusgirl202615 daysI would NOT eat that!!! that does not look good to eat!!- ianc89914 daysWhat if you ate one and if tasted good? Would you still not eat it?
godismysavior10 daysnoooo its literally PLASTIC!!!
