https://phys.org/news/2018-07-pef-pet.html

"Polymers and plastics are very useful materials that make a wide range of everyday applications possible in the first place. Lighter cars, smartphones, modern clothes and many medical devices would not exist if we hadn't invented polymers," says Jan-Georg Rosenboom, a fresh Ph.D. graduate in the research group of ETH professor Massimo Morbidelli at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences. "The question is how we can reduce the negative environmental impact of plastic while maintaining its benefits for our society."

One answer could be biobased polymers, so-called bioplastics. These have very similar properties to conventional plastics, but are made from plant-based raw materials instead of crude oil. Some bioplastics are also biodegradable and enable better composting.