Study finds animals can digest natural bioplastics

A new study reveals that various animals, including worms and sponges, possess enzymes capable of breaking down PHA, a natural bioplastic. This discovery challenges the prior belief that only microbes could digest this material. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute found the enzyme in a sea worm and other species, suggesting animals have digested PHA for millions of years, opening new avenues for understanding natural plastic degradation.