Inspired by the process of photosynthesis, the Professor of University of Cambridge, Erwin Reisner, and his research group members have been developing sustainable carbon fuels for the past few years. This year, they have developed a reactor converting carbon dioxide and plastic waste into sustainable fuels and other vital chemical products using Sun as its energy. What makes this device unique is that the CO2 is directly taken from the air or industrial processes. This requires a high level of technology as converting highly diluted carbon dioxide is not simple. However, despite the effort that was required to create this converter, it has an immense effect on the environment. It helps the carbon to be used again instead of being stored underground—which could potentially cause damage in the future—and stop the use of fossil fuels. 

From the following converter, CO2 is converted into a simple and clean liquid fuel while the plastic is broken down to a chemical that is often used in the cosmetic industry. According to the Prescient & Strategic Intelligence, this chemical’s (glycolic acid) global market will grow at a 7.7% rate between 2021 to 2023. Therefore, reusing the plastics as glycolic acid is beneficial.

Sustainability became one of the important topic in current society where many don’t acknowledge the impact their action holds against the environment. This converter is one of the many steps that leads to sustainability and one day, to a more flourishing earth. Further improvements on the device are being made by the scientists.