Marc Hillmyer
Reinventing the Future of Plastic
Marc Hillmyer is a University of Minnesota professor and one of the state’s leading researchers in sustainable polymers. His career spans fundamental scientific research, industry collaboration, patented technologies, and the development of new materials designed to reduce waste and reliance on finite resources. Marc’s talk confronts the growing crisis of plastic pollution while offering a scientifically grounded path forward. He explains why recycling alone will not solve the problem and why researchers must redesign plastics at the molecular level. By combining renewable materials, high performance, affordability, recyclability, and safe degradation, science can help create a truly circular plastics economy.
Plastics do not have to be the enemy. The real problem is our linear system of extracting finite resources, using them briefly, and throwing them away. By investing in foundational research and designing sustainable plastics for circularity from the beginning, we can retain their life-enhancing benefits while protecting the planet for future generations.
Marc Hillmyer is a University of Minnesota professor and one of the state’s leading researchers in sustainable polymers. His career spans fundamental scientific research, industry collaboration, patented technologies, and the development of new materials designed to reduce waste and reliance on finite resources. Marc’s talk confronts the growing crisis of plastic pollution while offering a scientifically grounded path forward. He explains why recycling alone will not solve the problem and why researchers must redesign plastics at the molecular level. By combining renewable materials, high performance, affordability, recyclability, and safe degradation, science can help create a truly circular plastics economy.
Plastics do not have to be the enemy. The real problem is our linear system of extracting finite resources, using them briefly, and throwing them away. By investing in foundational research and designing sustainable plastics for circularity from the beginning, we can retain their life-enhancing benefits while protecting the planet for future generations.