Scientists are making progress in research to make plastic out of bio-material rather than petroleum.

A Greener Way to Make Plastic – ScienceNOWCredit: Phil Badger/Renewable Oil International Chemical refineries are great at converting petroleum into gasoline and the building blocks of plastics and other consumer goods. But when it comes to sustainable starting materials, such as wood chips, corn stalks, or other plant “biomass,” refineries are too inefficient to make the process commercially viable.