Corn Next has launched CornNext-17, a biobased material aimed at addressing the issue of plastic pollution.

Drawn from renewable corn starch, CornNext-17 leverages a patented fermentation process and has rapid decomposition capabilities.

According to the company, CornNext-17 serves as a sustainable solution that retains the natural polysaccharide structure of corn starch, allowing for complete biodegradation within 30 days in natural settings.

The company also claimed that its material maintains the necessary mechanical properties for a broad spectrum of uses, from packaging to consumer goods and industrial components.

CornNext-17 serves as an alternative to conventional plastics and bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).

The product comes with the potential to 'transform' various industries, encouraging them to shift towards more sustainable materials.

The CornNext-17 White Paper, released alongside the product launch, provides an in-depth look at the material's characteristics.

It underscores CornNext-17’s potential to supplant traditional plastics and its alignment with global sustainability efforts.

Corn Next aims to advance CornNext-17 through ongoing research and development and seeks strategic partnerships to accelerate its adoption and drive global sustainability.

Corn Next founder and CEO Randy Yongzhong Zhang said: “CornNext-17 represents a significant leap forward in sustainable materials.

“We are proud to offer a solution that addresses the urgent need for environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics. The development of CornNext-17 is guided by our vision to revolutionise how materials are used and discarded.

“As a fully natural biodegradable innovation, it marks not just a breakthrough in material science, but a significant milestone in humanity's pursuit of a greener, more sustainable future.”