Most of the plastics in circulation today are synthetic, derived from crude oil, natural gas and coal, but an alternative has recently begun to emerge in the form of bioplastics, Which are made from biomass such as plants, eggshells, chicken feathers and even tequila byproducts.

Making plastic in this way would not only reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but also create materials that are more environmentally friendly once used and can degrade in a very short time.

However, there are many challenges in improving their performance, because bioplastics do not offer the same properties as petroleum-based plastics, including strength and flexibility, but the team behind the new research targeted one characteristic in particular: stability at high temperatures.

The research team, composed of scientists from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Tokyo, found the raw material in the process of kraft paper pulp, which turns wood into pulp and extracts two aromatic molecules, AHBA and ABA.

These molecules are converted into polymers by combining with recombinant microorganisms and other chemicals, which are then processed into heat-resistant films. The final product is a lightweight organic plastic that the researchers didn't add any heavy inorganic fillers to make.

The material is known to have extremely high heat resistance, with temperatures exceeding 740 degrees Celsius. The team believes the technique could also be applied to other types of plastics to improve their performance.