From Plastic Waste to Climate Solution: Copenhagen Chemists Pioneer Breakthrough in CO2 Capture

Copenhagen, September 5, 2025 – Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have unveiled a groundbreaking method that turns discarded plastic into a powerful tool for fighting climate change. By transforming PET plastic waste, commonly found in bottles and textiles, into a new material called BAETA, the team has developed a solution that captures CO2 with remarkable efficiency. Unlike traditional carbon capture technologies, BAETA is created through a gentle, energy-friendly process that works at ambient temperatures and can be scaled for industrial use. Instead of polluting oceans and ecosystems as microplastics, PET waste could now become a valuable resource in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.

The researchers highlight the dual benefit of their invention: tackling plastic pollution while addressing rising atmospheric CO2 levels. BAETA can withstand high temperatures, making it especially effective for use in industrial exhaust systems, where it binds and stores CO2 before it is either permanently sequestered or repurposed. “The beauty of this method is that we solve a problem without creating a new one,” says lead author Margarita Poderyte. With its potential to create financial incentives for cleaning up plastic waste and its compatibility with existing recycling initiatives, the breakthrough offers a rare win-win for both industry and the environment. The study has been published in Science Advances, and the team is now working to scale up production and attract investment for real-world applications.