<p>Infinite growth in finite space is impossible. Similarly, unbridled production in a closed system inevitably generates pollution due to waste. A glance at a satellite image of the Pacific Ocean offers a grim portrait of the consequences of plastic pollution on earth. The collection of plastic garbage washed out to sea from coastlines (Lebreton et al. 2018) now occupies a surface area roughly 2 million km2. Plastics, nonetheless, have solved problems and enabled the advancement of myriad industries since their inception in 1907. Given the many essential roles filled by plastics in daily life, it is difficult to imagine a fast transition back to a plastic free world. How could synthetic biology address the seemingly paradoxical scenario we find ourselves in as of 2022?</p>
<p>Infinite growth in finite space is impossible.
Similarly, unbridled production in a closed system inevitably generates pollution due to waste.
A glance at a satellite image of the Pacific Ocean offers a grim portrait of the consequences of plastic pollution on earth.
The collection of plastic garbage washed out to sea from coastlines (Lebreton et al. 2018) now occupies a surface area roughly 2 million km<sup>2</sup>.
Plastics, nonetheless, have solved problems and enabled the advancement of myriad industries since their inception in 1907.
Given the many essential roles filled by plastics in daily life, it is difficult to imagine a fast transition back to a plastic free world. How could synthetic biology address the seemingly paradoxical scenario we find ourselves in as of 2022?</p>
