Teen inventor wins Earth Prize with enzyme-releasing bioplastic to fight microplastics
Ayra Satheesh, an 18-year-old, was named Europe’s winner of the 2026 Earth Prize for Eco Purge, a plant-based biodegradable plastic that embeds enzymes to break down microplastics in soil, freshwater and seawater. Developed with researchers from University College Dublin, ATU Letterkenny and the BiOrbic Bioeconomy Centre, the project aims to scale up for real-world use in packaging and compost bags using a $100,000 prize ($85,000). The approach relies on releasing enzymes as the plastic degrades, potentially via engineered bacteria to produce the enzyme, a costly but long-term strategy. Satheesh advocates reducing plastic use in the EU, arguing recycling alone won’t solve the crisis, as only about 9% of plastics are recycled. A global Earth Prize winner will be announced May 29.