When Plants Eat Plastic – Enzymes, Evolution, and the Future of Recycling

Carnivorous plants don’t just eat insects — their digestive
enzymes can also break down plastics like PET.
In this episode, researcher Felice Quartinello (BOKU & acib)
explains how his team discovered plastic-degrading activity in
pitcher plant fluids, why plant proteases like nepenthesin are so
surprising, and how enzymes could reshape the future of
recycling.
We explore the science behind “plants that eat plastic,” the
challenges ahead, and what this discovery means for a more
sustainable, circular future.