Genetic Engineered Ideonella sakaiensis Bacteria: A Solution of the Legendary Plastic Waste Problem

Plastic waste has been known as the most unsolved environmental problem in this world. Instead of what has been expected, the amount of plastic waste is increasing significantly over years, especially after the pandemic era. Nowadays, 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste is produced and 8.4 million tons had been generated within a year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to this fact, an effective and environmentally friendly solution is urgently needed. The ability of Ideonella sakaiensis bacteria to consume polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the main material of plastic, in only 6 weeks becomes great potential to solve this problem. These bacteria need to consume PET for their metabolism and they can produce safety secretes from it as well. Nevertheless, the habitat of these bacteria is very limited. With the technology of genetic engineering, the genes of Ideonella sakaiensis can be modified with Azotobacter sp.'s genes that make them survive in areas that usually have much plastic waste, such as soil and water. This combination is expected to optimize the ability of Ideonella sakaiensis as it boosts the survival capability of the bacteria. As a result, the problem of plastic waste can be solved effectively without damaging the environment and moreover create a sustainable environment.