Introduction
Plastic pollution is one of the defining environmental challenges of our time. More than 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually, and much of it ends up in landfills or oceans where it persists for centuries [1]. Plastics fragment into microplastics, infiltrating food chains, soils, and even human bloodstreams. Traditional solutions—like recycling or incineration—struggle to keep pace with production, leaving ecosystems overwhelmed.
Recent discoveries show that plastic-consuming fungi may offer a sustainable, nature-based solution to this global crisis. From marine fungi discovered in Hawaiʻi to gut-dwelling microbes in insects and specialized plastisphere species, research is demonstrating that fungi can break down synthetic polymers once thought to be nearly indestructible. These findings may transform how the world approaches plastic waste.
So how exactly do these fungi break down plastics, and what makes them so uniquely equipped for this task?
Marine Fungi Eating Plastic in Hawaiʻi
Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa discovered that over 60% of marine fungi isolated from sand, corals, and sponges could degrade polyurethane [1]. Remarkably, fungi adapted to consume plastics faster after repeated exposure, suggesting their potential to evolve with growing pollution. Since less than 1% of marine fungi have been identified, this discovery points to an immense untapped resource for ocean cleanup.
Novel Enzymes in Insect Guts
A second breakthrough comes from a yeast-like fungus, Sakaguchia sp. BIT-D3, isolated from the gut of plastic-eating mealworms. Scientists identified two enzymes, SiCut1 and SiCut2, that can degrade polyester plastics such as PCL, PBS, and polyurethane foam [2].
Furthermore, these enzymes are unlike most known cutinases, sharing less than 25% sequence identity with others yet demonstrating strong biodegradation power. This highlights the potential of insect-fungi partnerships as a new frontier in plastic bioremediation. In the future, engineered versions of these enzymes could be scaled up for industrial recycling.
Plastisphere Fungi in Polluted Environments
Fungi are also emerging from polluted environments themselves. In India, researchers isolated fungi from “plastisphere” samples—microbial communities growing directly on plastic waste. several species degraded plastic bags at accelerated rates, suggesting that fungi in contaminated areas may already be evolving plastic-digesting abilities [3].
Meanwhile, German researchers found freshwater fungi capable of living solely on synthetic polymers, further evidence of fungi adapting to anthropogenic waste [4]. Overall, these discoveries underscore fungi’s versatility and their ability to thrive in some of the most human-altered environments on Earth.
Ocean Plastisphere Specialists
The fungus Parengyodontium album, found on marine debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, can degrade polyethylene when combined with UV light exposure [5]. Nonetheless, this finding shows fungi can survive and metabolize plastic in harsh marine conditions, complementing other cleanup efforts.
Why Plastic-Consuming Fungi Matter
Plastic pollution has resisted most conventional solutions. Recycling remains limited, incineration contributes to air pollution, and chemical degradation is costly. By contrast, fungi have evolved complex enzyme systems to digest natural polymers like lignin, making them well-suited to breaking down synthetic materials [3].
The ability of fungi to adapt, evolve, and colonize diverse environments—from ocean ecosystems to insect guts—offers hope for scalable, environmentally safe remediation. As research progresses, plastic-consuming fungi could complement recycling, reduce landfill loads, and help restore polluted ecosystems.
A One Health Perspective
The One Health framework underscores that tackling plastic pollution is not only an environmental issue but also a human and animal health priority. Microplastics accumulate in soils, oceans, and even drinking water. They disrupt ecosystems and expose wildlife and people to toxic chemicals. By promoting fungal bioremediation, restoring ecosystems, and regulating waste at the source, societies can reduce cross-species risks—from contaminated seafood to polluted farmlands. Protecting environmental health through sustainable waste management is therefore inseparable from safeguarding long-term human and animal well-being.
Conclusion
Plastic-consuming fungi highlight nature’s ingenuity in tackling one of humanity’s most urgent challenges. From Hawaiʻi’s marine fungi to insect gut enzymes and plastisphere specialists, these organisms reveal how biology can be harnessed for sustainable waste management.
Future innovations may include fungal bioreactors at recycling facilities, engineered enzymes for faster degradation, or marine restoration projects that integrate fungi into cleanup efforts. Prevention remains the best solution, but fungi provide hope that even the smallest organisms can play a role in repairing the planet.
References
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. (2025). Marine fungi may help solve plastic pollution crisis. Available at: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2025/02/26/marine-fungi-plastic-pollution/ (Accessed: 29 August 2025).
- Journals of the American Society for Microbiology. (2024). Novel cutinases from insect gut fungi degrade plastics. Available at: https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/aem.02562-24 (Accessed: 29 August 2025).
- Environmental Science Archives. (2024). Plastic-eating bacteria and fungi as remedies for plastic pollution. Available at: https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/121280624/ESA_Vol_IV_Iss1_14_20-libre.pdf (Accessed: 29 August 2025).
- Oceanographic Magazine. (2024). Fungi at the plastic party: researchers make exciting discovery. Available at: https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/fungi-at-the-plastic-party-researchers-make-exciting-discovery/ (Accessed: 29 August 2025).
- Wikipedia. (2025). Parengyodontium album. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parengyodontium_album (Accessed: 29 August 2025).
