It is not an unknown fact that we produce a tremendous amount of waste each year. However, many of us are unaware of the actual numbers. According to 2025 Statistica, global plastic waste generation has grown sevenfold in the past four decades. We have reached 360 million tons of plastic waste per year. The concerning fact that this number keeps increasing, researchers have been actively looking at ways to eliminate this wastage. A new study may have found an effective way to do so. A new study published in Nature Chemistry suggests it is possible to turn common plastic waste to be turned into paracetamol, a common painkiller. Researchers have found a new way to make paracetamol from everyday plastic waste, which is much better for the planet than how it's made now. This new method could completely change how we produce this medicine, making it much more sustainable and eco-friendly. Problem with Traditional Paracetamol Production Right now, a big issue that we are facing is that making paracetamol relies on fossil fuels like crude oil, which are limited resources and will eventually run out. Researchers emphasize that this is an old way of making medicine and is also a big reason for climate change. Factories that produce paracetamol use a lot of fossil fuels every year, releasing harmful gases into the air. It's not a sustainable process, and it contributes a lot to our environmental problems. Solution to Plastic PollutionThis exciting new discovery also helps tackle a huge problem, which is plastic waste. A type of plastic called PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is found in water bottles and food packaging. All the waste we create it ends up in landfills or polluting our oceans, causing serious damage to the environment. Even though we can recycle PET, the current methods often create products that still add to plastic pollution. This new method offers a way to truly transform that waste. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh found an interesting way to use a common germ called E. coli. They changed the E. coli's genetic code, basically reprogramming it. This changed E. coli can then take a substance from PET plastic, called terephthalic acid, and turn it into the main part of paracetamol. It's like a tiny, living factory! They use a process similar to brewing beer to speed up this change, turning plastic waste into paracetamol in less than 24 hours. Sustainable and Efficient ProductionOne of the best things about this new way of making paracetamol is how environmentally friendly it is. It works at room temperature, so it doesn't need a lot of energy. Plus, it creates almost no carbon pollution, making it a truly sustainable way to produce medicine. The results were very successful, about 90% of what they produced from the plastic became paracetamol. While they still need to figure out how to make it in larger amounts for widespread use, this is a huge step forward for creating medicines in a way that's good for our planet. Future of Sustainable ManufacturingThis research really shows the power of engineering biology. This field uses engineering ideas to harness what living things can do to create new products. As Professor Stephen Wallace, who led the study, explains, this work proves that traditional chemistry can team up with engineering biology to create "living microbial factories." These microbial factories can produce useful chemicals in a sustainable way, cutting down on waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and our reliance on fossil fuels. The study, which was published in Nature Chemistry, got funding from EPSRC CASE and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. This discovery proves that PET plastic isn't just trash; it can be transformed by tiny organisms into valuable new products, even ones that can help treat diseases.