# Irish student wins title for plastic aimed at microplastics 2026-08-07T08:41:34+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Eighteen-year-old Arya Satheesh from Letterkenny, Ireland, has won the European regional title at The Earth Prize 2026 for Eco Purge, a plant-based biodegradable plastic. The Times of India reports that the material can break down in suitable conditions in up to two weeks, releasing enzymes designed to degrade nearby PET-derived microplastics in soil and water. Satheesh received $12,500 to develop the prototype further. Eco Purge remains a proof of concept, with researchers pointing to hurdles including enzyme stability, production costs and dilution in open environments. Its enzymes mainly target PET plastics. Satheesh used ChatGPT to locate potential suppliers before support from BiOrbic director Kevin O'Connor helped source enzymes from Denmark and Germany. She hopes to develop the material for commercial packaging and waste bags. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: bioplastics, environment, Ireland, microplastics, student innovation Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/irish-student-wins-title-for-plastic-aimed-at-microplastics/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/irish-student-wins-title-for-plastic-aimed-at-microplastics/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.