TURNING PLASTIC INTO NOTHING: A CHEMICAL BREAKTHROUGH THE PHILIPPINES MUST NOT MISS

TURNING PLASTIC INTO NOTHING: A CHEMICAL BREAKTHROUGH THE PHILIPPINES MUST NOT MISS

There’s a new scientific discovery out of Alabama that stopped me in my tracks—and it should make every Filipino environmental policymaker sit up and listen.

Professor Jason Bara and his team at the University of Alabama may have just cracked one of the biggest environmental puzzles of our time: how to make plastic waste disappear. Literally. While working with a compound called Imidazole, they found that plastic didn’t just melt or degrade—it dissolved completely. One of the researchers even exclaimed, “The plastic is gone, it is all gone.”

If you’ve ever walked along the coastlines of Manila Bay, waded through floodwaters in the city, or looked at the choking rivers in our urban barangays, you’ll understand why this news feels like a modern miracle.

But this isn’t science fiction. The University has already filed a patent application, and while the process still needs commercial testing and refinement, this discovery holds transformative potential. And the question now is: Will we act on it, or will we let another breakthrough pass us by?

What is Imidazole—and Why Should We Care?

Let’s break it down. Imidazole is a five-membered ring-shaped organic compound with two nitrogen atoms. In less technical terms, it's a substance already widely used in pharmaceuticals, antifungals, and chemical synthesis. It’s not rare. It’s not exotic. But its newfound ability to break down plastics could be game-changing—especially for countries like the Philippines.

We are, unfortunately, notorious contributors to global marine plastic pollution. Several global reports consistently place the Philippines among the top sources of plastic waste that end up in oceans. That’s not just an embarrassing label—it’s an environmental, economic, and public health catastrophe.

So, here’s my point: Why wait?

What We Should Be Doing Now

I urge our government, starting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to act swiftly and decisively. We’ve heard countless speeches about climate action and sustainable development. But opportunities like this don’t knock every day.

Here’s what we can and should do:

1.   Send our Embassy in Washington, D.C. to knock on the door of the University of Alabama. Start a conversation. Let’s express our serious interest in this technology—not just for academic curiosity, but with the intent to pilot it in the Philippines.

2.   Ask our Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to revive its economic diplomacy efforts. In fact, this is exactly what economic diplomacy should look like—bringing home high-value, high-impact technology that solves urgent local problems.

3.   Engage our Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Let them examine the practicality of importing or reproducing Imidazole-based methods here. Our scientists are more than capable. They just need the right tools and support.

4.   Involve the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Plastic waste is their nightmare. Let’s give them the chance to make it their legacy as well—by eliminating it, not just managing it.

Why This Matters Now

We can’t afford to wait for pilot programs in Europe or tech transfers that take decades to trickle down to Southeast Asia. If we act now, the Philippines could become one of the first countries to test and adopt this breakthrough—not only cleaning up our environment but also positioning ourselves as a regional leader in plastic waste innovation.

Let me be clear: I’m not saying this one compound will solve all our garbage problems. Imidazole won’t fix our broken recycling system, undisciplined littering culture, or lack of landfill space. But it’s a start—and a promising one at that.

It offers hope for rivers like Pasig, shores like Navotas, and even the countryside where plastic sachets outnumber leaves on the ground.

Final Thought: Let’s Not Wait to Be Left Behind

Too many times, we Filipinos discover game-changing technologies when they’re already being exported back to us at high prices. We wait. We observe. We hesitate. And then we pay—economically and environmentally.

This time let’s do the opposite.

Let’s reach out. Let’s be bold. Let’s say, “We’re ready to try. We want to lead. We want to be part of the solution.”

Because if we don’t act now, then when?

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

08-05-2025